Sexual , Gender & Domestic Violence & The LGBTQ Population

1. Sexual , Gender & Domestic Violence & The LGBTQ Population brought to you by the WOU Safe Zone Committee

2. Intro • Name • Major • Year in School • Why are you here (what do you want to get from this session)?

3. Who are we? • THEO & CARLI!

4. What is Safe Zone? The Western Oregon University Safe Zone program seeks to form a network of students, faculty and staff committed and trained to provide safe, non-judgmental and supportive contacts for all WOU community members regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) issues. It is symbolic of a willingness and a commitment to provide an atmosphere of unqualified acceptance and assistance

5. Why isThis Topic Important to talk about? • Affects the college population as a whole • ¼ college aged women • 1/33 men in their lifetime • LGBTQ-identified students can have even more social & treatment barriers than non LGBTQ identified survivors of domestic and sexual violence • Educating ourselves = better help and assistance for our friends, loved ones, ourselves

6. For today: • What is sexual violence? • Power & control • What does this issue look like? • Special considerations/conditions faced by the LGBTQ community • Supporting LGBTQ survivors • How can you help?

7. Ground Rules • Ask questions! But do so respectfully  • Remember we don’t all share the same experiences-don’t generalize for everyone, and respect that we all have different view points.

8. *Myth vs Fact • Same sex sexual assault is motivated by homosexual attraction • Queer people are more likely to become abusers or perpetrators of sexual violence or relationship violence • Queer people are never abusive towards their partners

9. Some perspective • Members of the LGBTQ community may experience: • Higher rates of sexual harassment in academic settings • Increased rates of sexual harassment in school correlates to increased rates of suicide attempts in LGBTQ youth (Fineran, 2002) • More than 50% of those that experience harassment/violence attempt suicide (Grant, J.M. et al, 2011) • More likely to experience sexual assault, sexual harassment, physical assault and stalking compared to other groups (Dunbar, 2006) • Often as a hate-crime, when compared to other groups targeted for hate crimes

10. Some Perspective, Cont. • Respondents who identified as transgender in grades K-12 experience: • 78% harassment • 35% physical assault • 12% sexual violence • Rates increase for American Indian, Multiracial, Asian and Black respondents

11. Shared Experiences & Common Fears • Feeling guilty/like they “were asking for it” • Not being taken seriously or having their experience minimized • Not having their experience labeled as sexual assault or rape • Having their experience sensationalized. • Being blamed for the assault • Not being understood or being blamed if it happened in an BDSM environment • Mistakenly being perceived as the perpetrator

12. *LGBTQ Specific Considerations • Not being out to family/friends/classmates • Also, not wanting to out attacker/perpetrator • Small community (being divisive/limit support) • Providers/Parents/Support people not understanding same-sex assault • Financial issues • Being treated in a homophobic manner by the police, hospital, rape crisis center and others

13. *CONSIDERTATIONS CONTINUED • Having to have explain how the assault happened in more detail than one would as a survivor of opposite-sex assault • Queer survivors may be apprehensive to report and fear being ignored and/or rejected as overly sensitive due the stereotype that they are “promiscuous” and invited the assault upon themselves.

14. *Considerations Continued • Being treated in a homophobic manner by the police, hospital, rape crisis center and others • Having to have explain how the assault happened in more detail than one would as a survivor of opposite-sex assault • Queer survivors may be apprehensive to report and fear being ignored and/or rejected as overly sensitive due the stereotype that they are “promiscuous” and invited the assault upon themselves.

15. SV as a hate crime • SV is used as a weapon against people who identify in the LGBTQ community • Cultural factors like homophobia • Power & control • Definitions were problematic (old vs new) • VAWA updates • LGBTQ • Native American/Trafficking

16. *How you can help: Signs to look for Friends/Loved ones: • Changes in mood • Changes in hygiene/dress • Withdrawl from friends/family Abuser: • Limiting access to or controlling technology • Controlling behavior • Who they see • What they do • Where they work/if they work

17. *How you can help: Support • Listen, believe them  say this! • Give power back • Allow survivor to make choices • Honor those choices • Know appropriate resources • Some resources are more LGBTQ friendly than others • Ask before touching them/trying to give them a hug/fixing their clothing/etc.

18. LGBTQ specific resources • Bradley Angle • LGBTQ Specific resources and services • Classes for survivors and their partners • www.bradleyangle.org • 24 hour crisis line: (503) 281-2442 • National Sexual Violence Resource Center • www.nsvrc.org • Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project • www.gmdvp.org

19. Local Resources • WOU Student Health & Counseling Center • Medical, Counseling and Wellness Resources • www.wou.edu/student/health • (503) 838-8313 • Students in crisis can be seen ASAP • Campus Public Safety • Abby’s House • OCADSV • Crime Victim’s Compensation Program • WOU Green Dot • www.wou.edu/greendot