Stephen Donaldson (activist): Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Image-Donny_the_Punk.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Donny the Punk, July 1995]]

'''Donny the Punk''' is a nickname for '''Stephen Donaldson''', founder of [[Stop Prisoner Rape, Inc.]]. Stephen Donaldson was also an assumed name. His birth name was Richard Anthony Martin. Stephen Donaldson ([[July 27]], [[1946]] – [[July 18]], [[1996]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[activist]] who was known for his work on [[prison reform]] and his association with the [[punk]] subculture.

'''Stephen Donaldson''' ([[July 27]], [[1946]] – [[July 18]], [[1996]]), born '''Richard Anthony Martin, Jr''' and better known by his [[nickname]] '''Donny the Punk''', was an [[United States|American]] [[activism|political activist]] and the founder of [[Stop Prisoner Rape, Inc.]]. He is best known for his work on [[prison reform]] and his participation in the [[punk]] subculture.

Stephen Donaldson was born in the US, just in time to make him at the right age to be able to protest against the [[Vietnam War]]. And so he did, in a 1973 [[Religious Society of Friends|Quaker]] peace rally at the [[White House]], during which the peaceful demonstrators were arrested by the police. Most got out on $10 bail, but Donny refused to pay out of principle.

Donaldson was the son of a [[Navy]] officer and himself became a sailor. He took the name ''Stephen Donaldson'' after graduating from [[high school]].

He was moved into a jail wing full of hardened criminals on orders from the warden. That night he was anally and orally [[rape|raped]] dozens of times. It is estimated he was violated by over 45 African-American males. [http://www.jimgoad.net/am4pdf/donny.pdf] He had injuries to his [[rectum]] so severe that he had to spend weeks in a hospital after the attack. This sort of treatment of anti-war protesters has not been acknowledged in the United States, and it is unknown how often it happened. Due to the stigma of being a rape victim, the crime was and continues to be extremely underreported.

Stephen Donaldson wasbegan bornhis ininvolvement thewith US, justactivism in time to make him at the right age to be able to [[protest]]s against the [[Vietnam War]]. And so he did, inIn a 1973 [[Religious Society of Friends|Quaker]] peace rally at the [[White House]], during which the peacefulseveral demonstrators were arrested by the police. Most gotof outthose arrested were released on $10 bail, but DonnyDonaldson refused to pay out of principle.

He went on to have severe emotional problems, landing back in jail a couple times, but also taking a number of graduate school classes at [[Columbia University]] to study religion. During his subsequent incarcerations, he would 'hook up' with powerful male inmates to keep from being beaten and attacked again; although, he would have to have sex in exchange for this protection. This is where the word "Punk" in his name comes from. A [[jail house punk]] is the term used to refer to the inmates who trade sex for inclusion into a group that ensures their physical safety.

HeOn orders from the jailhouse warden, Donaldson was moved into a jail wing full of hardened criminals on orders from the warden. That night, heDonaldson was anally and orally [[rape|raped]]d dozens of times. by It isan estimated he was violated by over 45 African-American males. [http://www.jimgoad.net/am4pdf/donny.pdf] He had injuries to his [[rectum]] so severe that they required surgery, and he had to spend weeks in a hospital after the attack. This sortAfter ofhis treatmentrecovery, ofDonaldson anti-warcalled protestersa haspress not been acknowledged in the United Statesconference, and it is unknown how often it happened. Due torecounted the stigma of being agang rape victim,to thereporters. crimeHe was andaquitted continues to beof extremelyall underreportedcharges.

An explanation of Donny's theory of being a punk appears as a letter in the book ''[[We're All Doing Time]]'' by Bo Lozoff.

HeDonaldson went on to have severe emotional problems, landing back in jail a coupleseveral times, but also taking a number of graduate school classes at [[Columbia University]] to study religion. During his subsequent incarcerations, he would 'hook up' with powerful male inmates to keep from being beaten and attacked again; although, he would have to have sex in exchange for this protection. This is where the word "Punkpunk" in his namenickname comes from. A [[jail house punk]] is the term used to refer to the inmates who trade sex for inclusion into a group that ensures their physical safety. An explanation of Donny's theory of being a punk appears as a letter in the book ''[[We're All Doing Time]]'' by Bo Lozoff.

He went on to found "Stop Prisoner Rape, Inc.", an organization that helps prisoners deal with the psychological and physical trauma of rape, and works to prevent it happening. He was perhaps the first anti male-rape activist with any amount of public attention in the United States.

He went on to foundfounded "Stop Prisoner Rape, Inc.", an organization thatwhich helps prisoners deal with the psychological and physical trauma of rape, and works to prevent it happening. He was perhaps the first anti -male-rape activist with any amount of public attention in the United States.

As Donny the Punk, he was also a respected writer and personality in the [[Punk rock]] and anti-racist [[skinhead]] movements and was published in [[Fanzines|fanzines]] such as ''[[Maximum RocknRoll]]'', ''[[Flipside (fanzine)|Flipside]]'' and ''[[J.D.s]]''.

As Donny the Punk, he was also a respected writer and personality in the [[Punk rockpunk]] and anti-racist [[skinhead]] movements and was published in [[Fanzines|fanzinespunk zines]] such as ''[[Maximum RocknRoll]]'', ''[[Flipside (fanzine)|Flipside]]'' and ''[[J.D.s]]''.

He was assistant editor of the [[Encyclopedia of Homosexuality]] (Garland Publishing, 1990) and was editor-in-chief of a concise edition of the Encyclopedia, which remains unpublished.

HeIn died1996, inhe 1996died from [[AIDS]].

==Quotes==

* "I’veI've gotten into Shiva Hinduism from Buddhism, in part because there’sthere's a very strong phallic-worship tradition there. And I can relate to that. I can relate to the phallus as the symbol of total power, of creativity, and see how it emanates a sense of awe, which is the basic feeling of religion. You know, the uncanny. The awesome. The hallowed. All the feelings that have nothing to do with good and evil.…Just Just this sense of incredible power, this overwhelming energy that is so other, so totally other, and yet it touches you so closely inside. That’sThat's religion."

==References==