Blog entry: A life scarred – yet not broken: The story of ScottGalan

My childhood was anything but carefree. I am a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of my biological parents – both severely addicted to alcohol. Alcohol left deep scars not only on them, but also on me: I still suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – a lifelong, incurable condition.

My time in foster care also brought little peace. There were physical fights, unfair punishments, and emotional blackmail. Statements like "Hurry up, or you won't get dinner" were not uncommon. When I finally began to live my sexual identity openly, my foster father responded with hurtful insults that were way below the belt.

Despite everything – or perhaps because of it – I found a way to cope with my pain: music. It is my outlet, my voice, my healing process. Through it, I process what happened to me and share my story with the world. Because I believe that silence only protects the perpetrators – telling the story heals the victims.