My Nonprofit Reviews

I’ve spent most of my life feeling like I didn’t belong anywhere. As a Black LGBTQ+ man, I’ve faced discrimination on so many fronts—my race, my sexuality, and my gender. The places I sought help from in the past either treated me like I didn’t deserve to be there or simply didn’t know how to help someone like me. I can’t even count how many doors were shut in my face, or how many times I was told that my pain wasn’t as valid as others because I didn’t fit into the “right” category of survivor.

When I finally reached out to Broken Cycle Ranch, I was desperate. I’d survived domestic violence and abuse, but everywhere I turned, I was met with judgment. People would either refuse to help me because of my sexuality, or they assumed that because I was a man, I couldn’t possibly be a victim. That hurt almost as much as the abuse itself. It made me feel invisible.

I was honestly scared that Broken Cycle Ranch would be the same. I almost didn’t call. I thought, "Why would this place be any different?" But from the moment I called, something felt different. Kaydie didn't question my story. She treated me with compassion like I belong. She welcomed me, saw me for who I was, and immediately made me feel like I had a right to heal, just like anyone else.

What stood out to me most was how they understood the complexity of my experience. With Broken Cycle Ranch, I wasn’t just treated as a victim of domestic violence. They saw the whole picture—how being a Black LGBTQ+ man shaped my trauma and my healing. For the first time, I didn’t have to hide or downplay any part of who I was. I could be myself in every way, and they respected and embraced that.