Zeke Thomas, son of legendary NBA Hall of Fame guard Isiah Thomas, is speaking out against sexual assault and has revealed that he was raped—twice.
“At first I didn’t realize what had happened, what had transpired. I knew that it was wrong, I knew that I did not want it. I did not seek it out,” he told Good Morning America about the first incident, which happened when he was just 12. “I hadn’t let my family know until much later that this had happened.
“It was definitely hard for them to hear, and even more hard for them to hear that it happened again,” he said.
The 28-year-old, who is openly gay, says that the second time he was assaulted happened a year ago in his New York City apartment.
Thomas told GMA host Robin Roberts that he didn’t press charges in either instance because he was afraid of being labeled a “victim” and “just wasn’t ready.”
“If I could go back, there’s 100 percent I would press charges,” Thomas said. “If we could find … the assailant today, I would 100 percent press charges.”
Thomas, who works as a DJ, is sharing his story in hopes of drawing attention to the number of men who are sexually assaulted. Thomas will appear in a new public service announcement for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and is an ambassador for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, an organization dedicated to “preventing and responding to sexual violence through collaboration, sharing and creating resources, and promoting research,” according to its website, GMA reports.
As for Thomas’ parents, he notes: “They let me know they’re here for me and [said], ‘We’re gonna do everything in our power to help your through this journey.’”
Thomas’ father is arguably one of the best point guards ever to lace them up. He starred for the Detroit Pistons and was a 12-time NBA All-Star who has been named among the 50 greatest players in NBA history.
Read more at ABC News.