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Working with LGBTQ Survivors of Violence

Nicole Engel Anti-Violence Program

OutFront Minnesota’s

Anti-Violence Program A broad-based effort to end violence and harassment against and within LGBTQ+ identified communities in Minnesota

We work with victims of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and hate/bias violence

We believe that everyone has the right to be safe from harm regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression

What Do We Do? 24/7 Crisis Line Peer Counseling Systems Advocacy Legal assistance OFP/HRO assistance

Support Groups Emergency Financial Assistance Community Education/Outreach

Statewide trainings

Who We Serve EVERYBODY!

No, really. OutFront's Anti-Violence Program works with ALL people who are survivors of violence. While we specialize in working with LGBTQ folks, we don’t turn anyone away. (We are not equipped to work with people doing harm around issues of harmdoing.)

LGBTQ Language & Terminologies

• Lesbian- A woman who is emotionally, physically and/or sexually attracted to other women

LGBTQ What does it mean?

• Gay - A man who is emotionally, physically and/or sexually attracted to other other men • Bisexual - An individual who is emotionally, physically and/or sexually attracted to multiple sexes/genders • Transgender - A term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth • Queer – an umbrella term used to describe anyone who is not straight, or the community as a whole*

Sex Assigned at Birth Intersex: a term for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with an anatomy that doesn’t seem to align with typical male or female anatomy

Gender Role

Gender

Gender identity

Gender expression

Gender Identity A person’s internal sense of themselves as a man, woman, both, or neither • Transgender: A term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. • “Trans” is sometimes used as shorthand for “transgender.”

• Cisgender: A term for people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

Transgender Identities • Transgender man: a person assigned female at birth who identifies as masculine or male and is transitioning/has transitioned to live as a male/man. He may identify as a man, a trans man, or a transgender man. • Transgender woman: a person assigned male at birth who identifies as feminine or female and is transitioning/has transitioned to live as a female/woman. She may identify as a woman, a trans woman, or a transgender woman.

Nonbinary, genderfluid, or genderqueer: a term used by some people who experience their gender identity and/or gender expression as falling outside of the categories of man and woman.

- 2016 statewide survey - 81,000 MN teens in 9th and 11th grades - 2,200 teens, or 3% - Worse mental & physical health

Gender Identity Transgender people sometimes change their name, pronouns, take hormones, and/or surgically alter their bodies…

… but none of these are required to be transgender.

Gender Expression Refers to the way in which a person acts to communicate their gender within a given culture May be communicated through one’s name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, mannerisms, etc.

Gender Expression Gender Non-Conforming (GNC)

a term used to describe people whose gender expression is different from conventional expectations of masculinity and femininity

Sexual Orientation Sexual and Romantic/Emotional Attraction Lesbian

Asexual

Gay

Aromantic

Bisexual

Demisexual

Bi+

Androsexual

Pansexual

Gynesexual

Queer

Same gender loving

✓ Sexual orientation and gender identity are what’s on the inside

Behavior does not equal identity!

✓ Sexual behavior and gender expression are what’s on the outside

✓ Sexual orientation and gender identity are separate aspects of our identities

LGBTQ Communities: Oppression and its Impact

Structural Oppression HETEROSEXISM The belief that heterosexuality is the only natural or moral mode of sexual behavior. This belief results in a system of bias and discrimination against same-sex sexuality and relationships.

Heterosexual Privilege: actual or promised societal benefits accorded to individuals who identify as heterosexual or relationships perceived as heterosexual

CISSEXISM The belief that transgender and non-binary identities are inferior to and/or less valid than cisgender identities. This belief results in a system of bias and discrimination against transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming individuals. Cisgender Privilege: actual or promised societal benefits accorded to individuals whose gender identity aligns with the gender they were designated at birth

What do we know about the impact of heterosexism & cissexism on LGBTQ individuals?

Impacts ✓Poverty ✓Homelessness

✓Drug & Alcohol Use/Abuse ✓Suicide Risk ✓Hate and Bias Violence ✓Mental Health ✓Sexual Assault ✓Domestic Violence

Sexual Violence & Intimate Partner Violence: Dynamics

Common Myths about LGBTQ Violence & Abuse Violence in LGBTQ relationships doesn’t happen. There are no laws against sexual assault between two women or two men. Men/masculine folks are never survivors and women/feminine folks are never perpetrators.

If two women or two men are violent with one another, it is fighting - not abuse.

Abuse is about power and control. It is not about gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Any person can be an abuser/perpetrator. Any person can be a victim.

All forms of LGBTQ violence are illegal.

Intimate Partner Violence Dating and Intimate Partner Violence occur at the same rate for LGBTQ people as heterosexual people 1 in 4 people will experience IPV in their lifetime.

NCAVP report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence (2015)

Prevalence Have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner? ◦ 44% of lesbians ◦ 61% of bisexual women ◦ 35% of heterosexual women

◦ 26% of gay men ◦ 37% of bisexual men ◦ 29% of heterosexual men NISVS 2010 (CDC)

Sexual Violence Some studies show LGBTQ people are at approximately the same risk as heterosexual people 1 in 4 women 1 in 8 men Other studies show sexual violence being even higher than for heterosexual people 1 in 2 bisexual women 1 in 2 transgender individuals

Best Practices: LGBTQ Survivors

Key Attitudes and Approaches Be non-judgmental, open, professional.

Provide victim-centered care. Reflect the victim’s language. Meet them where they are. Be an ally. Educate yourself. Interrupt homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in your agency when you come across it.

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Key Attitudes and Approaches Remember: People have the right to self-identify. Honor that identity. Appreciate the risks LGBTQ people take when they seek assistance!

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Avoid Assumptions Don’t assume: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

people are heterosexual sexual orientation based on gender of partner sexual orientation or gender identity based on appearance sexual orientation or gender identity is the same as last interaction ◦ LGBTQ people are engaging in risky or criminal behavior

Verbal Safety Clues: inclusive language • Avoid gendered language • Person, instead of man or woman • Partner, sweetheart, lover instead of boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife

• Relationship status, instead of marital status • Spouse, instead of husband/wife

• They, instead of he or she • Parent or guardian, instead of mother or father

Pronouns

Know Your Resources! What other agencies in the area potentially serve LGBTQ clients? Are there any LGBTQ groups in the area?

Wrapping Up: Things to Remember… ✓LGBTQ are people are present all over MN ✓They experience DV and SV at the same - or higher - rates than heterosexual people ✓They face unique barriers to service

✓Small verbal safety cues can make a big difference

Have questions? Need support?

Contact OutFront Minnesota! www.outfront.org (612) 822-0127 Client Services & Advocacy Legal Issues Community Organizing & Outreach LGBTQ Inclusive Trainings Youth and School Organizing