Considerations of Identity

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation encompasses:

Heterosexual

Often seen as "normal" or "default", it's important for us to remember that heterosexual is simply one mode among many for how sexuality is expressed.

Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer or Questioning/Intersex (LGBTQI)

BREAKING: CDC Announces the release of National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) report on data per respondents’ sexual orientation. Among the findings: 

• The majority of women who reported experiencing sexual violence, regardless of their sexual orientation, reported that they were victimized by male perpetrators.
• Nearly half of female bisexual victims (48.2 percent) and more than one-quarter of female heterosexual victims (28.3 percent) experienced their first rape between the ages of 11 and 17 years.
• Bisexual women (61.1%) reported a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner when compared to both lesbian (43.8%) and heterosexual women (35.0%).
• Lesbians and gay men reported levels of IPV and SV equal to or higher than those of heterosexuals.

You can read more – including downloadable PDF of the Full Report, Fact Sheet, and FAQ file on the CDC website .

 WCADV/WCASA LGBTQ Statewide Committee – find out more about this committee and WCASA’s commitment to increasing outreach to the LGBTQ community…

LGBTQ en Español

The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging recently announced that they now offer several articles and publications in Spanish, with more to be added in the coming months.

WI Resources

• Fair Wisconsin
• FORGE - For Ourselves Reworking Gender Expression 
  • “What You Should Know About Violence and Harassment Against LGBT Individuals”
  • "What You Can Do About Violence and Harassment Against LGBT Individuals"
  • you can find more useful items: Handouts page 
• Rm2BSafe – statewide initiative to educate about creating safe relationships for the LGBT community

Other Online Resources for LGBTQI:

• National Coaltion of Anti Violence Programs (NCAVP) 
• Report on Anti-LGBTQ Hate Violence in 2010 (read about the report on ColorLines)
• Survivor Project 

• UN Human Rights Council - LGBT page
• booklet: “Born Free and Equal”: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in International Human Rights Law (2012) 
• report: Discriminatory Laws and Practices and Acts of Violence Against Individuals Based on Their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (Nov. 2011) 

• Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)  
  
• Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) 
• Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund  
• Transgender Law and Policy Institute 
• BiNet USA 
• Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) 
• GLSEN Releases Groundbreaking Study of Bias, Bullying and Homophobia in Grades K-6 (report can be downloaded from their press statement page)
• Strengths and Silences: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students in Rural and Small Town Schools (report by GLSEN; link to press release on their site; study can be downloaded as PDF from linked page)
• Network la Red
  
  • “Open Minds Open Doors: Transforming Domestic Violence Programs to Include LGBTQ Survivors“ 
    a manual tailored to the needs of domestic violence providers, but applicable to SA provision as well.
• OutFront Minnesota
• Intimate Partner Violence Safety Plan 
• Virginia Anti-Violence Project
  
• The Survivor Handbook - impact of interpersonal violence on LGBTQ survivors
• The Model Policies and Best Practices guide – increasing agency capacity to serve LGBTQ survivors
• Passing Twice – LGBTQ Persons who stutter

LGBTQ Teen Resources

(courtesy of WCADV):

• Love is Respect (& Break the Cycle) engages, educates and empowers youth and young adults to prevent and end abusive relationships. Many topics, including: if you’re being abused, if you’re abusive, helping friends/strangers/your child, relationships, forums, safety planning, legal rights, technology safety and more. Toolkits, presentations, campaign ideas, PSA’s, statistics.  Love is Respect LGBTQ Relationships features LGBTQ relationships, identifying if they are healthy or abusive and unique obstacles for LGBTQ teens; Hear My Voice is another resource for LGBT teens. Ayuda offers information in Spanish on teen dating violence and includes a section specific to LGBTQ teens. Love is respect & Break the Cycle. 

• Show Me Love! raises awareness about healthy relationships and provides resources for LGBTQ survivors. Their postcard campaign utilizes art to celebrate fun, vibrant, healthy LGBTQ relationships.  WEAVE: Women Empowered Against Violence & US Dept of Justice, Washington D.C.

• Amplify Your Voice focuses on helping young people make informed decisions about their wellness and sexual health. Peer to peer education, resources and blog posts. Complemented by: Advocates for Youth for professional and youth activists, YouthResource for peer education and resources for LGBTQ youth,  MySistahs for peer education and resources for young women of color, and AmbienteJoven for latino LGBTQ youth.