RICHMOND, VIRGINIA-- Virginians who identify as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, biseuxal, transgender, queer or questioning) now have access to a toll-free helpline designed specifically to address the needs of members of the LGBTQ community.
The Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Virginia’s leading voice on sexual and domestic violence, launched the LGBTQ Partner Abuse and Sexual Assault Helpline (1-866-356-6998) this month to provide support, information, and referrals to survivors, friends, family, and professionals wanting to know more about how to help members of the LGBTQ community who have been affected by sexual assault or partner abuse.
The Helpline operates Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, and can be reached by calling 1-866-356-6998.
LGBTQ Virginians are significantly impacted by sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and hate-motivated violence. The State of Violence in LGBTQ Communities of Virginia Report (2008) by the Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) finds (1):
• 41% of respondents had been in an abusive relationship at some time in their lives;
• 30% had been stalked;
• 36% experienced sexual violence as children or youth (17 and younger);
• 26% experienced sexual violence as an adult.
Twenty seven percent (27%) of respondents to the Transgender Health Initiative Study (2007) by the Virginia Department of Health experienced sexual violence (2).
The VAVP report indicates LGBTQ Virginians do not feel that supportive services are readily accessible; 84% of respondents thought that domestic violence agencies primarily serve heterosexual non-transgender women. 92% of respondents believe that LGBTQ people might not access services because they would not want to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity to the service provider.
The Helpline is part of the Richmond Area Partnership to Enhance Services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Survivors and Raise Awareness of Violence in LGBTQ Communities (RAP), a collaborative project between the Action Alliance, Virginia Anti-Violence Project, Southerners on New Ground (SONG), Safe Harbor, ROSMY, the Gay Community Center of Richmond, and the Fan Free Clinic.
“All Virginians deserve to be safe, particularly in our families and intimate relationships. We look forward to offering support and advocacy to members of the LGBTQ community and allies committed to ending sexual and intimate partner violence, “ says Maria Altonen, RAP Project Coordinator, “We hope everyone will help spread the word about this fantastic new resource.”
Notes:
1http://virginiaavp.corgibytes.com/documents/resources/Report.pdf
2 http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DiseasePrevention/documents/pdf/THISFINALREPORTVol1.pdf
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