Christina Hernandez from the Jean Nidetch Women's Center gave a presentation on same-sex violence. She discussed key terms, types of victimization like hate crimes and domestic violence, common myths, and statistics. While research is limited, domestic violence occurs in LGBTQ relationships as frequently as heterosexual relationships. Unique challenges for LGBTQ victims include threats of being "outed" and lack of support services. Resources for help were provided.
4. Term
Transgender:
self-identifying term for someone whose gender
identity or expression differs from traditional gender
roles
also an umbrella term that refers to everyone who
crosses gender roles in one way or another including
transsexuals, drag queens/kings, etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=aOarssJWHhI
•Gwen Araujo
•Brandon Teena
5. Term
Queer
once used to negatively describe a gay man
or woman
now used by the gay community as a
positive or neutral descriptive of each other
embracing a word that was used to attack or
degrade, the gay community has
demagnetized the strength of the word,
making it a common everyday term,
lessening the effect of the word when used
against them
6. Term
Homophobia:
First used in print in 1969 in Time Magazine. It
was coined by a clinical psychologist, George
Weinberg.
Irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination
against gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and
queer people
Prejudice, discrimination, harassment
and acts of violence
To discriminate is to label one group as
“less good” or “less deserving”
Discriminatory practices target people who
typically occupy devalued groups
7. Homophobia…
Internalized homophobia
Often refuse to believe their own
sexuality
Believes all the bad “what if’s”
Institutionalized homophobia
Systematic oppression forced to
maintain the status quo
8. Homophobia…
Living with rejection or threat of rejection,
can be detrimental to a person’s sense of
well-being and connection
Maslow’s Basic Hierarchy of Human Needs
Love and Belongingness
We need to feel connected that we fit, that
we are valued.
Because of perceived or real threat of
rejection, a person may hide his or her
sexual identity
What is the cost to their sense of self-
esteem?
9. Term
Heterosexism:
assumption that everyone is, or
should be, heterosexual
heterosexuality is the only normal,
natural expression of sexuality
heterosexuality is superior and
therefore preferable to being gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender or
queer
10. Everyday Occurrences
Invisibility/Isolation
Qualifiers
Subject to gay jokes/degrading comments
Presumption of heterosexuality
Threats to “disown” by family
Partner Exclusion
Perceived danger to children
Name calling
Forced sexual acts (rape) to “make” them
straight
11. Relevance to sexual violence
prevention
We cannot afford, nor would want, to
alienate LGBTQI victims/survivors.
Within the field of sexual violence
prevention, heterosexism can serve to
reinforce homophobia (be it societal or
internalized).
12. Types of Victimization
Hate Crimes
Difficult at times to ascertain whether
the crime was, in fact, motivated by
the person’s sexual orientation.
14th Amendment: Every citizen has
equal protection under the law
13. Types of Victimization
Sexual Violence
By stranger
By known individual
By significant other
More judgment on the person’s sexual
orientation than on the attacker
Heterosexism is at work because it is
typically a heterosexual model upon
which findings are based.
14. Types of Victimization
Domestic Violence
Remember, DV is about power and control.
May be especially difficult for lesbian victim
Size does not matter
Verbal and emotional abuse can be
compounded for the lesbian/gay/trans victim/
survivor
Threats to “out” the person
Threats to disclose HIV/AIDS status
Not “easier to leave”
Individuals may be more intertwined with each
other’s lives
What happens in DV shelters?
15. Myths vs. Facts
Sexual assault & Sexual assault & domestic
violence do occur in LGBTQ
domestic violence don't relationships
occur in LGBTQ Domestic violence occurs in
relationships (denial) LGBTQ relationships as
frequently and as severely as it
does in heterosexual
relationships
Level of trauma of sexual
violence is not defined by
whether or not the weapon was
a penis
LGBTQ survivors also need
support in healing
Some key dynamics of
domestic violence are the same
in all relationships (violence is
about power & control, violence
occurs in a cycle, violence
escalates over time, etc.
16. Myth 2
Sexual & domestic There is nothing
violence occurs in inherently unhealthy
LGBTQ relationships about these relationships
because there is People do not abuse
something inherently because they are LGBTQ
(or heterosexual). People
unhealthy with these
abuse to have power &
relationships control over another
person.
LGBTQ people can have
healthy relationships
17. Myth 3
The bigger, more Size,
masculine or masculine masculinity/femininity and
identified person is always gender identity are not
the abusive partner in a causes of abuse and do
domestic violence not determine who is the
relationship abusive partner
Sexual and domestic
violence does not occur in
butch/femme
relationships more
frequently
18. Myth 4 & 5
Sexual and domestic In all relationships, both
violence in LGBTQ partners can have
relationships is "mutual" unhealthy behavior. But
(both partners are in domestic violence
abusive to each other) relationships, mutual
abuse rarely happens.
It's easier for an LGBTQ The reasons why it is
person to leave an difficult to leave an
abusive relationship abusive relationship are
similar for all abusive
relationships.
Homo/bi/transphobic &
heterosexism also
contribute to difficulties
leaving an abusive
relationship
19. Myth 6
Sexual & domestic Sexual & domestic
violence occurs in LGBTQ violence does not occur in
relationships that engage LGBTQ relationships that
in SM play more engage in SM play more
frequently frequently
SM play is sexual and SM play is consensual so
domestic violence it is not abuse
Children are never an LGBTQ people have
issue in LGBTQ children in their lives
relationships
20. Statistics
Substantial lack of current research in this area
Domestic violence occurs in LGBTQ
relationships with the same severity and
frequency as in heterosexual relationships
Consistent abuse occurs in as many as 1 in 3
relationships
At least one episode of abuse occurs in 1 in 2
relationships
Lesbians are more likely to report sexual
violence than gay men
1 in 2 transgender individuals have experienced
sexual violence (FORGE)
21. Unique considerations
Threat of being “outed” when an LGBTQ person is
abused
Concerned about betraying the LGBTQ community
when reporting
Homophobia intersects with possible sexism and racism
for LGBTQ victims/survivors
Institutionalized homophobia affects the support
services victims/survivors receive
Shelters are often not available to men, while women
may not feel safe if their abuser has access
Victims of same-sex sexual violence are not necessarily
LGBTQ
Lack of knowledge about LGBTQ sexual violence affects
victims/survivors, educators, and support services
22. Resources/handout
Community United Against Violence (CUAV)
24 hr crisis line: 415-333-HELP (4357) www.cuav.org
Matthew’s Place
www.matthewshepard.org
Trevor Helpline: 1-866-4-U-TREVOR
GLBT National Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-PRIDE (7743)
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs
212-714-1184 www.ncavp.org
FORGE: For Ourselves: Reworking Gender Expression
www.forge-forward.org
23. Contact us at…
Christina Hernandez,
Outreach & Awareness Coordinator, JNWC
christina.hernandez@unlv.edu or
895-0689