LAFASA Lexicon
LGBT Pride Month
June 2011
In This Issue
SAVE THE DATE
Transgender Survivors Webinar
Sexual Assault and LGBTQ Survivors
Issues and Concerns of LGBTQ Survivors
Tools
ACTION!
SAVE THE DATE!
Where is the Outrage?
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Louisiana's 8th Annual Statewide Conference on Sexual & Domestic Violence

 

December 7-9, 2011

Marriott Baton Rouge  

 

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To be added to the conference mailing list, please email Mariah@lafasa.org.

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 Transgender Survivors:

Statistics, Stories, Strategies

 Thursday, June 30, 2011

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CST

 

This webinar will encourage providers to expand their transgender vocabulary and conceptual framework(s), specifically in how they apply to transgender sexual assault, domestic violence, and/or hate violence survivors.

 

 Register Here!  

Greetings!

 

President Obama has proclaimed June to be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month!  You can read the Presidential Proclamation here.  Read our "ACTION" column down below to see what President Obama's Administration is doing to help LGBTQ youth!
Sexual Assault and LGBTQ Survivors
PRIDE

Sexual minorities experience many of the same emotional responses as other survivors who have experienced sexual trauma.  Shame can be particularly difficult for LGBTQ survivors to overcome especially if the assault was a part of a hate crime.  The survivor may feel that they "caused" the assault.  In same-sex assaults, the survivor may experience guilt for "turning" on their community if they report.  Below are real issues and concerns that LGBTQ survivors face, especially when deciding whether to report the sexual violence.

Issues & Concerns of LGBTQ Survivors

Fear of Prejudice: Someone who is sexually assaulted by someone of their same sex may fear reporting the crime because of prejudice. They may fear that an officer, hotline worker, doctor, or attorney will judge them because of their sexuality.   

 

Assumption of Heterosexuality: People assisting a survivor of sexual assault may assume that the person is heterosexual and a survivor may feel uncomfortable correcting that assumption, or disclosing that they are homosexual. 


Fear of Being "Outed": A LGBTQ survivor of sexual assault may not have revealed to their friends, family, or community that they are homosexual and may worry if they come forward to report that this information will be revealed. 


This Can't Happen To Me: Sexual assault is most often portrayed as a crime committed by men against women. However, sexual assault can be perpetrated by men against men and by women against women.   

  

Betrayal of LGBT Community: A LGBTQ victim of sexual assault may hesitate to report the crime because they may worry about betraying their community and might worry that a stigma of sexual violence will be attached to the LGBT community.   

 

Read more from George Washington University SACC 

Tools for Working with LGBTQ Survivors

WCASA's "Setting the Stage: Strategies for Supporting LGBTIQ Survivors lists 15 ways to create safe spaces for LGBTIQ survivors, LGBTIQ definitions and vocabulary, SANE protocols for working with the LGBTIQ population, and much more!  

 

WCASA's Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) Populations and Sexual Assault Information Sheet   


FORGE's What You Should Know About Violence and Harassment Against LGBT Individuals 

ACTION!

DHH's Administration on Children, Youth and Families sent out a memo in April 2011 addressing the crisis facing gay teens in the system and encouraging local child welfare agencies to ensure their protection.

In the memo, ACF Commissioner Bryan Samuels writes, 

Male Family

"This Information Memorandum (IM) confirms and reiterates my fundamental belief that every child and youth who is unable to live with his or her parents is entitled to a safe, loving and affirming foster care placement, irrespective of the young person's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. I encourage child welfare agencies, foster and adoptive parents and others who work with young people in foster care to ensure that their physical and emotional well-being are protected."

 

Read about Jonathan, a gay youth who spent nearly a decade in Louisiana's child welfare system, in HuffPost Impact's article, "Obama Administration Seeks To Address Homeless Crisis Among Gay Teens".