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Reachable: Data collection methods for sexual orientation and gender identity

In the past few years, researchers have begun developing new methods to measure sexual orientation and gender identity. Sexual and gender minorities have often been classified as "hard-to-reach" populations. However, recent developments in data collection methods demonstrate the increasing number of research methodologies available to those seeking a greater understanding of the lived realities of sexual and gender monorities. This report highlights some examples of data collection methods and presents examples of their use around the world.

The audience for this paper is non-researchers who seek a basic understanding of data collection methods regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. This paper is not a review of data collection. Rather it provides a small number of examples of data collection efforts.

Red Flag Campaign Relaunch Webinar

The Red Flag Campaign is an awareness campaign that educates college students about sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking by highlighting the warning signs, or “red flags,” that students may see in a friend’s relationship.

Through using a bystander intervention strategy, the campaign encourages friends and other campus community members to “say something” when they see red flags for dating violence such as emotional abuse, jealousy, isolation, victim blaming, coercion, stalking, microaggressions, and sexual assault.

Launched in Virginia in 2007, the Red Flag Campaign has since spread across the country to over 400 college campuses, military bases and academies, and community-based advocacy agencies in 48 states and Canada. It was created in partnership with college students, college personnel, and community victim advocates, and funded by grants from the Verizon Foundation, Verizon Wireless, Macy’s Foundation, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

The campaign includes a digital guide for implementation, miniature red flags for raising awareness in highly visible campus locations, and printed posters featuring active bystander responses to red flag statements. In 2022, Action Alliance staff began a process to create two new series of posters and revise the digital Campus Planning Guide to reflect current student experiences. This webinar shares the history of the campaign as well as the revision process and all of the new materials the campaign has to offer.

Click here to access the recorded session on these updates.

Report on Implementation of §9.I-1301 - Written Law Enforcement Policies on Response to Sexual

House Bill 1395 (2008; Bell) required DCJS to submit a report on the status of implementation of §9.1-1301 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Courts of Justice Committees by December 1, 2009. §9.1-1301 requires all law enforcement agencies to establish written policies and procedures regarding law enforcement officers’ response to alleged sexual assaults. DCJS designed and conducted a survey of Virginia law enforcement agencies’ sexual assault policies during July and August of 2009.  This is the report on that study.  Published by DCJS December 2009.

Reproductive and Sexual Coercion: A Toolkit for Sexual & Domestic Violence Advocates

The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance seeks to build local sexual and domestic violence agencies’ capacity to identify reproductive and sexual coercion. This includes: implementing screening for reproductive and sexual coercion, implementing policies and procedures that address reproductive and sexual coercion, fostering partnerships with family planning and reproductive health providers, and doing the above-mentioned work through a reproductive justice framework or lens.

The goal of this toolkit is to help begin conversations and implement new or clarify existing policies within your agency: What is reproductive and sexual coercion? Why is a reproductive justice framework necessary? How can we best support survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence with a better understanding of reproductive and sexual coercion? What are sample policies and procedures my agency can utilize? Who in my community can I collaborate with on this work? We hope this resource provides some answers to these questions while also guiding and supporting further learning on these topics to best support the specific needs of your community.

Reproductive Health and Intimate Partner Violence Wheel

Reproductive Health and Intimate Partner Violence Wheel provides definitions and examples of reproductive coercion and intimate partner violence.  The wheel can be used as a training tool for advocates and service providers, as well as a supportive and enlightening resource for survivors.