Search

The V Word

Advocating to end sexual and domestic violence

Open Search
Author

Carol Olson

Carol is an artist, art therapist, activist and radio host who has worked in both the public and private sectors for 20 years focused on designing and implementing programs for under-represented populations.

“READ FOR PIXELS” 2014 CAMPAIGN TO FEATURE BESTSELLING AUTHORS RAISING FUNDS & AWARENESS FOR THE CAUSE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Media Contact: Regina Yau – info@thepixelproject.net / pixelprojectteam@gmail.com

PRE-CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT:

“READ FOR PIXELS” 2014 CAMPAIGN TO FEATURE BESTSELLING AUTHORS RAISING FUNDS & AWARENESS FOR THE CAUSE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

AUGUST 12th, 2014 (WORLDWIDE): The Pixel Project (www.thepixelproject.net), an anti-Violence Against Women non-profit, will be holding the first “Read For Pixels” 2014 Google Hangout Sessions featuring live Google Hangouts with award-winning bestselling authors in support of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign (http://reveal.thepixelproject.net), which aims to raise US$1 million in aid of The Pixel Project and the USA’s National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (www.ncadv.org). Participating authors include Joe Hill, Ellen Hopkins, Robert J. Sawyer, Cinda Williams Chima, Chuck Wendig, Kevin Hearne, Delilah S. Dawson, Alyson Noel, Jasper Fforde, Sarah J. Maas and G. Willow Wilson.

The “Read For Pixels” Google Hangout sessions will run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings throughout September. Each session will feature an author reading from one of their books and discussing why they support ending violence against women, their writing, and women in the media and popular culture. Each session will also include a live moderated Q&A session for fans and book lovers to ask their favourite authors questions in real time.

Participating authors have also generously donated a range of exclusive “goodies” to help The Pixel Project encourage fans and book lovers to donate to the Pixel Reveal campaign including: 1-to-1 Skype chats for fans and book clubs, signed first editions or special editions of participating author books, brand-new Drabbles (100-word stories), a handwritten short story or poem on a postcard, and more. Additional goodies are donated by Bloomsbury Books and Romance author Lori Foster. Donations begin at as little as US$10 and the goodies are available to donors as “thank you” gifts depending on the donation amount. Fundraising will take place throughout September.

“Violence against women is one of the most widespread and entrenched human rights violations in the world and The Pixel Project is delighted that so many acclaimed authors have stepped up to join us in raising much-needed funds and widespread support for this cause,” said Regina Yau, Founder and President of The Pixel Project. “It is our hope that their support of the cause to end violence against women will inspire fans of their wonderful books and book lovers worldwide to not only donate generously, but also begin taking action to stop the violence in their communities wherever they are in the world.”

More information about Read For Pixels can be found at: http://is.gd/Read4Pixels2014.

###

About The Pixel Project (www.thepixelproject.net)
The Pixel Project is a complete virtual, volunteer-led global 501(c)3 nonprofit organisation whose mission is to raise awareness, funds and volunteer power for the cause to end violence against women using a combination of social media, new technologies, and popular culture/the Arts. Their flagship initiative is the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign which aims to turbo-charge global awareness about VAW using social media while raising US$1 million by getting a global audience to collectively unveil a million-pixel mystery collage of Celebrity Male Role Models at US$1 per pixel.

0

The V Word: Technology and Sexual Assault

Welcome to today’s edition of The V Word. 

Listen to the show here

August is the month we ease out of vacation and prepare kids to go back to school. And with school comes technology. Technology and the internet is used for everything and kids have access everywhere. I watch my friends and inlaws with children try to put in place controls and blocks, but children can still access cell phones and the internet anywhere. And predators online are clever. If you have kids, is this something you worry about? If so, listen,
this week we are going to talk about predation via technology.

Surveys done by the US Department of Justice found that predators seek youths vulnerable to seduction, including those with histories of sexual or physical abuse, those who post sexually provocative photos/videos, and those who talk about sex with unknown people online.

  • 1 in 25 youths received an online sexual solicitation in which the solicitor tried to make offline contact.
  • In more than one-quarter (27%) of incidents, solicitors asked youths for sexual photographs of themselves.
  • 15% of cell-owning teens (12–17) say they have received sexually suggestive nude/seminude images of someone they know via text.
  • 4% of cell-owning teens (12–17) say that they have sent sexually suggestive nude/seminude messages to others via text message.

The US Department of Justice completed another survey to describe characteristics of interactions between Internet predators and their juvenile victims. The survey found that:

  • The majority of victims had met the predator willingly.
  • Of the 129 victims identified, ages 17 and younger, the face-to-face meetings had occurred in 74% of the cases, and 93% of those encounters had included sexual contact.
  • 75% of the victims were girls.
  • The majority of victims (67%) were children between the ages of 12 and 15.
  • The most common first encounter of a predator with a victim took place in an online chat room (76%).
  • In 47% of the cases, the predator offered gifts or money during the relationship-building phase.

And here is what is surprising:

  • Predators used less deception to befriend their online victims than experts had thought. Only 5% of the predators told their victims that they were in the same age-group as the victims. Most offenders told the victims that they were older males seeking sexual relations.
  • The victims who responded to this survey had willingly met and had sexual encounters with the predators. The authors concluded that vulnerable youth need further education regarding the negative effects of such relationships.

What can you do?

In Virginia there are many laws to protect children. You can find them at the Department of Criminal Justice Services website:

To list one =
Statute § 18.2-374.3. Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children. Under this statute there is a list of offences describing abuse of children and use of technology.

Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

How can you help?

  • You can add your voice to the community’s discussion to eliminate stigma, violence, and it’s impact against the youth of our community. There are many things you can do.
  • Get involved with your local child advocacy center or rape crisis center to learn more about educating your children or the children in your life.
  • Talk with your schools to request a education program to be provided at all grades.

For help or information? Here are some options…

If you have been assaulted or your child has been assaulted, call 911. Local rape crisis centers and child advocacy centers have advocates they can send to help support you and provide information.

For information on how to report an assault in the Richmond, Virginia, USA are, you can call the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100 or go by a local police station office. The main Richmond office is located at 200 West Grace Street.

To get a forensic exam to collect evidence and receive medical care, the local hospitals in the Richmond area with Forensic Nurse Examiners are at Medical College of Virginia and St. Mary’s Hospital.

For help with counseling and advocacy, local rape crisis centers, child advocacy centers and domestic violence shelters can provide services. To find a center closest to you… you can call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238. That is the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238.

Want to share a story or ask a question? Email me at thevword.radio@gmail.com or tweet me at my twitter account: @preventviolence. You can read the transcript for this show and past shows on my blog at www.thevword.org

The V Word is recorded in the studios of WRIR-LP 97.3 and streamed at wrir.org, read and produced by me, Carol Olson. Music is provided by The Etching Tin

US Department of Justice – Dru Sjodn National Sex Offender Public Website

1

The V Word: Vacation and Sexual Assault

July 28 2014

Welcome to today’s edition of The V Word.

You can listen to today’s episode here: https://soundcloud.com/carol-ann-olson/07-28-14-the-vword-1

Today’s question came from a friend, what are the risks of assault while on vacation and what can you do if you are assaulted while on vacation or while on a cruise ship?
The risks?
The FBI states that sexual assault is the dominant threat to women and minors while at sea, with the majority of assaults happening on cruise ships.
(See December 2005statement of Chris Swecker, Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigative Division of the FBI, before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and 
International Relations and Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources.)
In fact, sexual assault is the leading crime reported to the FBI – comprising 55% of crimes at sea that are reported.
(See March 2007 statement of Salvador Hernandez, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI, before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.)

The exact rate of sexual assault aboard cruise ships is difficult to determine. It is hard to precisely pinpoint the extent of the problem because there is no reliable way to asses whether the cruise lines are accurately reporting all on-board sexual assaults, and what is reported is not automatically made public. This, coupled with the fact that sexual assault is one of the least reported violent crimes. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, as many as 60% of onshore sexual assault victims decline to report the crime against them. It is likely that many cruise passengers who experience sexual assault on the cruise also will not report the crime, and therefore such crimes will not become part of industry cruise safety statistics.
So what can a survivor do if assaulted? Is reporting important? Yes. And there are things you can do. As with crime onshore…

Physical evidence is very important in sexual assault cases, and can deteriorate as time passes. As such, victims should not change clothes, avoid bathing if possible, and have a physical exam at the first opportunity. You should take these steps even if you are unsure about whether to report the crime to police. If you decide to pursue a prosecution at a later time, these steps preserve evidence that will assist the prosecutor.
If you are a US citizen and out of the US when assaulted, contact the US Embassy. A consular officer or after-hours duty officer from the U.S. Embassy may be able to accompany victims of sexual assault for the medical exam. You should get medical attention to determine if you have been injured in any way and to discuss treatment and prevention options for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The U.S. Embassy can provide you with a list of local doctors.

RAINN provides a list of suggestions
If You Are a Victim of Rape/Sexual Assault While Aboard a Cruise
Do not shower, and do not wash your clothes or bedding (as this may damage or destroy valuable evidence) until you have had a forensic examination by qualified medical personnel.
Immediately seek treatment in the emergency room of the nearest hospital or, if you are at sea, from the ship’s medical facilities for any physical injuries. Get a forensic examination to ensure that any evidence is collected; and take photos of any physical injuries or bruises and of the scene of the incident.
If you are onboard the ship when the crime occurs, immediately telephone the FBIand U.S. Coast Guard about the crime, and get advice on how to proceed. You can reach FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. at 202-324-3000, while the emergency numbers for the U.S. Coast Guard are: (1) Atlantic Area Command Center (for Great Lakes, Gulf and East Coasts) – (757) 398-6390; (2) Pacific Area Command center (for the Hawaiian, Alaskan and Pacific Coasts) – (510) 437-3700.
FBI jurisdiction over sexual assault at sea arises under federal criminal law. The Bureau has jurisdiction in these four circumstances: (1) if the cruise vessel is owned in whole or in part by a United States company, (2) if the victim or the perpetrator is a United States national or if the vessel departs or arrives in a United States port anytime during its voyage, (3) if the offense was committed by or against a United States national outside the jurisdiction of any nation (i.e., in international waters), and (4) if the offense occurred in the United States territorial sea within 12 miles of the United States coast.
If the crime occurred on-board the ship, also report the incident to a cruise ship security officer as soon as possible. Insist that the scene of the crime be secured until law enforcement officials arrive.
Get the names and contact information of any individuals (both crew members and passengers) who witnessed or were involved in the incident.
If the crime occurs when you are on foreign soil, seek advice from your nearest embassy or consulate concerning local resources and report the crime to the local police. (Remember that not every country’s legal definition of “rape” and “sexual assault” is the same.) Consular duty personnel are available 24/7 in over 260 Foreign Service posts abroad; and they can provide U.S. citizens who are victimized while traveling with a variety of forms of emergency assistance.

Here are some of the ways a U.S. consular officer can assist:
Contacting your family, friends, or employers;
Locating medical services;
Meeting other emergency needs that arise as a result of the crime;
Providing information about the local criminal justice process and about the case itself;
Obtaining information about local resources to assist victims, including foreign crime victim compensation programs;
Obtaining information about U.S. crime victim assistance and compensation programs on your behalf, and
Obtaining a list of local attorneys who speak English.
Consular officials cannot:
Investigate crimes;
Provide legal advice or represent you in court;
Serve as official interpreters or translators; or
Pay your legal and medical bills or other fees.

For help or information? Here are some options…
To reach the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the U.S., call 888-407-4747 (during business hours) or 202-647-5225 (after hours).
If you have been assaulted onshore in the US, call 911. Local rape crisis centers have advocates they can send to help support you and provide information.
For information on how to report an assault in the Richmond, Virginia, USA are, you can call the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100, that is 804-646-5100 or go by a local police station office. The main Richmond office is located at 200 West Grace Street.
For help with counseling and advocacy, local rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters can provide services. To find a center closest to you… you can call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238. That is the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238.
Want to share a story or ask a question? Email me at thevword.radio@gmail.com or tweet me at my twitter account: @preventviolence. You can read the transcript for this show and past shows on my blog at http://www.thevword.org
The V Word is recorded in the studios of WRIR-LP 97.3, read and produced by me, Carol Olson.

Contact information of U.S. embassies, consulates, and consular agencies for U.S. citizens traveling abroad.
More information about consular assistance for victims of crime abroad.
Seek support from the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE), the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline (www.rainn.org), or your nearest rape crisis center. If the FBI is involved in investigating your case, you also may want to contact the FBI Office for Victim Assistance about the status of the criminal investigation: 866-828-5320.
Call your physician when you return home and make sure you receive the proper medical care and longer term counseling if necessary.
Should you decide to pursue a civil claim, seek the advice of a legal professional. Your state bar association can refer you to a lawyer with expertise in maritime and admiralty law.

0

The V Word: University Sexual Violence

July 14 2014

Welcome to today’s edition of The V Word.

Listen to today’s episode here: https://soundcloud.com/carol-ann-olson/2014-07-14-thevword-campus-rape

Are you a college student? Are you a parent of a college student? Then no doubt you have been reading the news lately about sexual assault on college campuses.
I have been getting stories sent in by students…. While using force, containment and brutality are means used to rape a person and happens on college campuses. There are other actions perpetrators use to sexually assault someone. threats, chemicals like alcohol and drugs, groping, sexual harassment and stalking are used to sexually coerce someone. Perpetrators like to think that using a variety of ways to coerce someone makes it consent.. but it is not consent – it is coercion and it is sexual assault.
Have you ever given someone a sleeping pill to make them drowsy and then had sex with them? That would be considered sexual coercion.
Have you ever threatened to out someone’s sexuality or orientation in order to get them to agree to have sex with you? That is sexual coercion..
Have you ever given someone enough alcohol to make them drunk and incapacitated with the purpose to have sex with them? That would be coercion and rape.
Providing someone with a chemical to reduce their inhibitions or to get them to agree to something they wouldn’t do sober or alert is sexual assault.

Varying reports from the Department of Justice Services, to the White House, to the Office on Violence Against Women, to the statistics from local rape crises centers all find that 20 – 25 % of female college students are sexually assaulted. That’s every fourth or fifth woman on campus. So let’s follow stats… if the current count of women in college is 57% and college classes tend to hold 20 – 30 students (to large lecture classes that hold 100), in a class of 30 students… 4 or 5 are survivors of sexual assault – on campus… In a class of 100 students… 14 or 15 are survivors of sexual assault – on campus…. How many people in college… around 21 million in 2011… so that means… almost 3 million female students are survivors of sexual assault on campus or through college related activities.

What is the impact of sexual assault on college students? The impact is large and ongoing. With the new information regarding trauma on our brains… interpersonal violence received, like sexual assault and physical assault have a permanent impact on our brain which impacts our ability to process, modulate feelings, and manage behavior. This happens even if you witness acts of violence.
What are some of the results:
Trauma related psychiatric and medical issues can be profound
Mentally: Post Traumatic Stress disorders, depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, and relational disorders are common,
medically: sexually transmitted diseases that can result in sterility or immune deficiency disorders that can result in chronic and life threatening illnesses. head injuries are common and often overlooked, that can result in long-term cognitive issues.
Survivors of campus sexual assault have a higher percentage of dropping out of school, of having significant drops in grades, of dropping out of activities and jobs.
Survivors of campus sexual assault can have more difficulties with relationships due to a reduced ability to trust others.
Survivors of campus sexual assault can turn to alcohol and other drugs to help with the insomnia, nightmares, hypervigilance, and mood instability that can develop.
Appropriate trauma counseling may not be readily available in campus health or counseling centers or even all rape crisis centers due to lack of funds or resources.

What are the issues with colleges letting perpetrators continue to live on campus and attend classes? It promotes an environment where justice is not served, where females students are not respected, but most importantly, it provides an environment where sexual perpetration on females and males is accepted and facilitated.
Here is the question I ask myself…. If the majority of students in college are now women, if sexual perpetration still is targeted at mostly women, and if colleges are not protecting women… what happens if women stop going to those colleges? what happens if women boy cot those colleges? What happens if women create new and safer means to achieve higher education?
Frankly I am amazed colleges do not do a better job of taking care of the majority of their student enrollment. After all, isn’t that where the money comes from? the students and their parents?

For help or information? Here are some options…
If you have been assaulted, call 911. Local rape crisis centers have advocates they can send to help support you and provide information.
For information on how to report an assault in the Richmond, Virginia, USA are, you can call the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100, that is 804-646-5100 or go by a local police station office. The main Richmond office is located at 200 West Grace Street.
For help with counseling and advocacy, local rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters can provide services. To find a center closest to you… you can call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238. That is the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238.
Want to share a story or ask a question? Email me at thevword.radio@gmail.com or tweet me at my twitter account: @preventviolence. You can read the transcript for this show and past shows on my blog at http://www.thevword.org
The V Word is recorded in the studios of WRIR-LP 97.3, read and produced by me, Carol Olson.

0

Repost: Fairfax County (Virginia) Office for Women & Domestic Violence Services

This is a great new collaboration that I am passing from the DVAC and as posted on the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance newsletter.

 

Sexual and Domestic Violence Advocacy Agency Spotlight: Fairfax County Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services

DVAC: A One-Stop Shop for Victims of Domestic Violence and Stalking

Photo below: Teresa Belcher, Advocacy Team supervisor and manager of the DVAC project

Victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking in Fairfax County can now access a variety of services in one accessible, centralized location. Located in the Historic Courthouse, at 4000 Chain Bridge Road in Fairfax, the Fairfax County Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC) is a comprehensive, co-located service center, staffed by both county agency and community non-profit partners. These DVAC partners provide culturally responsive information and support services for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking and their families as well as promote the accountability of offenders of these crimes through specialized prosecution and offender supervision. The Fairfax County Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (OFWDSVS) provides an on-site supervisor to coordinate services at the Historic Courthouse location among all the partners providing services on-site. The Advocacy Services team of OFWDSVS is located on-site. OFWDSVS also provides management of the US Dept. of Justice grant that currently funds a large part of this project and coordinates and collaborates with all partners to ensure client and community needs are met.

DVAC is made up of the following county & community-based partner agencies:

  • Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court’s Court Services Unit
  • Fairfax County Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services
  • Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
  • Fairfax County Police Department and the Victim Services Section
  • A Way Forward, providing direct client monetary & goods assistance
  • Ayuda, serving the legal and social services needs of the immigrant community
  • Legal Services of Northern Virginia, providing low-cost legal representation for family issues
  • Northern Virginia Family Services, providing multi-language counseling services
  • Shelter House, Inc., providing crisis shelter for domestic violence victims and services to homeless families
  • Tahirih Justice Center, helping immigrant women fleeing gender-based violence obtain legal status and representation
  • The Women’s Center, providing low-cost counseling services in the community

At DVAC, community victim advocates, system-based advocates, and other service providers offer a safe environment where victims can feel comfortable exploring their options and accessing the services and resources they may need. For the most part, services are free and confidential. Some of the services DVAC can provide to victims include:

  • crisis intervention,
  • emotional support and options for counseling;
  • education about the criminal and civil justice systems (including civil protective orders);
  • victim advocacy, including safety planning, court accompaniment, Criminal Injuries Compensation, assistance with emergency shelter, and
  • other referrals to off-site county and community-based resources.

DVAC also provides services to offenders (off-site only) through a protective order compliance officer, including probation counseling regarding compliance with conditions of civil protective orders and referrals to Batterer Intervention Programs or related treatment, family, or social service resources.

Victims can access DVAC services by calling the Information & Intake line at (703) 246-4573 from Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm.

0

The V Word: Stigma and its Impact on LGBTQ youth

Welcome to today’s edition of The V Word.

The V Word: Stigma Against LGBTQ Youth – radio spot

 

Today I have a question for you. When you were in school, how often did you hear, or did you participate in anti-gay comments, listen to or participate in protests against bullying policies that specifically included antigay harassment, listen to and not object to sermons at places or worship or from leaders of religious denominations demonize gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, participate in or sit passively during campaigns against gay marriage, or laugh at gratuitous humor at the expense of LGBTQ individuals?

Did you participate in that or ignore it? You participated in perpetuating stigma against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals all of whom are our children, our adolescents, our siblings, our mothers, our fathers.

Today I am going to talk about stigma, specifically the hazards of stigma toward gay, lesbian and bisexual adolescents in the United States. People often ask me who is at a higher risk of sexual violence. Despite my urge to say “ well, everyone”, there are studies that suggest lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens are at a higher risk than their peers for violence experienced in the community, in the schools, and in their homes. What is perpetuating stigma? People are, only people can perpetuate stigma and it takes both active behavior and passive acceptance to keep stigma going.

In 2006, Elizabeth Saewayc published a study in the Child Welfare League of America. She examined the proliferance of negative messages toward sexual minority groups across North America.
Stigma hurts more than just words. Stigma and discrimination based on sexual orientation contributes to health disparities for LGBTQ persons. Another risk factor, other than coming out in an unwelcome environment is gender expression. Waldo’s study found that gender-atypical youth, youth that do not display stereotypical extremes of masculinity or femininity are at risk of violence from their families, or experience a lack of protection from their families when they are bullied and victimized. This can happen in families, school and community setting to youth even before themselves recognize or self-identify as gay or lesbian or bisexual. So what does this mean? It means that some as-yet unmeasured trait of gay or bisexual orientation that event the youth does not recognize will put them at risk of violence or a lack of protection toward violence. People do not even know what they are seeing and they will abuse and violate because they cannot identify it or it does not fit within their worldview.

So once we get past the appalling and horrifying feelings toward that… do you know why this is important to talk about and address? Because this risk for violence among stigmatized groups like LGBTQ children and teens are a potent predictor of youth risk behaviors such as substance abuse, suicide attempts, running away, and teen pregnancy. Teens who are abused and victimized often turn to drugs, truancy, and suicide to cope with the violence that is happening to them and the lack of protection they experience.

Are you ready and willing to help? You can help, understand and communicate that emotional pressure or corporal punishment, or violence will not change a child’s natural gender expression or their sexual orientation. If you have been a bystander who didn’t know what to do, you can intervene with information, help and support.

You add your voice to the community at large discussion to eliminate stigma, violence, and it’s impact against the youth of our community. There are many things you can do.

For help or information? Here are some options…
If you have been assaulted, call 911. Local rape crisis centers have advocates they can send to help support you and provide information.

For information on how to report an assault in the Richmond, Virginia, USA are, you can call the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100, that is 804-646-5100 or go by a local police station office. The main Richmond office is located at 200 West Grace Street.

To get a forensic exam to collect evidence and receive medical care, the local hospitals in the Richmond area with Forensic Nurse Examiners are at Medical College of Virginia and St. Mary’s Hospital.

Are you a youth who identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender? There are organizations that can help you. In the Richmond area, you can contact ROSMY – the Richmond Office for Sexual Minority Youth at- 644-4800 – centers like theirs offer support groups. Sensitivity training for professionals, and youth leadership initiatives.

For help with counseling and advocacy, local rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters can provide services. To find a center closest to you… you can call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238. That is the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238.

Want to share a story or ask a question? Email me at thevword.radio@gmail.com or tweet me at my twitter account: @preventviolence. You can read the transcript for this show and past shows on my blog at http://www.thevword.org

The V Word is recorded in the studios of WRIR-LP 97.3, read and produced by me, Carol Olson.

Music composed by Richard Schellenberg and John Chambers of The Etching Tin

 

0

The V Word: Partner Violence in Lesbian Relationships

Welcome to today’s edition of The V Word.

https://soundcloud.com/carol-ann-olson/the-v-word-dv-in-lesbian-relationships-aired-june-16-2014

A twitter follower asked that I talk about domestic violence between gay couples. She is a survivor and feels there is no enough information about interpersonal violence between same-sex couples.

She writes “I came out when I was a young adult, in my early twenties. My first relationship felt secure at first. A safe and understanding person to help me adjust to being open, to navigate all the issues I had to deal with between friends and family and within myself. I didn’t see the inequality in the relationship at first. I didn’t see that the structure in our relationship was actually controlling of me. When it went from emotional to verbal and finally to violence, I finally realized I was in an abusive relationship. It took longer to leave because I was financially dependent by then. I did find a way to end the relationship. Then the next struggle began. I live in an area without many resources and almost none that focus on domestic violence in lesbian relationships. It took awhile for me to find a counselor to help me. What is out there for us?”

Some facts:
Domestic or partner violence in lesbian and gay relationships is considered a silent epidemic. Between 17 – 45 % of lesbian report having experienced domestic violence. Framing domestic violence as something that only happens between heterosexual couples does a disservice to abuse in lesbian and gay couples.

Partner violence in any coupling has similarities: The abuser wants to gain and maintain control and to avoid feelings of loss and abandonment. However, there are some differences. A unique element for lesbians is the presence of a homophobic environment. Susa Rose of the National Violence Against Women Research Center, reports that this enables the abusive partner to exert “heterosexist control” over the victim by threatening to “out” the victim to friends, family, or employer or threatening to make reports to authorities that would jeopardize child custody, immigration, or legal status. The homophobic environment also makes it difficult for the victim to seek help from the police, victim service agencies, and battered women’s shelters.

How can you help?

To support a lesbian who is the target of partner violence:

Let her know that she can call you for help. Help her develop a safety plan concerning how she will get out if she needs to leave quickly, including having a bag prepared and easily accessible with essential documents (including identification, money, and anything else that might be needed), and arranging a place to stay in an emergency. Give her the keys to your house. Do not give up and do not criticize her or turn her away because she does not leave right away.

If you are in a city that has an Anti-Violence Project connected to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (http://www.avp.org), tell her about the services of your local AVP. Many AVPs provide counseling, advocacy with the police and criminal justice system and support groups.

Help her find a therapist that specializes in lesbian partner abuse.

For help or information? Here are some options…

If you have been raped, call 911 and go to the nearest emergency room.

For information on how to report in the Richmond, Virginia, USA are, you can call the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100, that is 804-646-5100 or go by a local police station office. The main Richmond office is located at 200 West Grace Street.

To get a forensic exam to collect evidence and receive medical care, the local hospitals in the Richmond area with Forensic Nurse Examiners are at Medical College of Virginia and St. Mary’s Hospital.

For those in Virginia who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer or questioning, you can access a free and confidential telephone service called The LGBTQ Partner Abuse and Sexual Assault Helpline at 1.866.356.6998 Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm for help regarding intimate partner abuse, sexual assault, and stalking. The Virginia Anti-Violence Project at virginiaavp.org stands ready to work with anyone who wants to address anti-LGBTQ violence in Virginia and to help build safe communities. The number again is: 1.866.356.6998.

For listeners from outside of Virginia: GLBT National Hotline @ 1-888-843-4565 or go to GLNH.org/hotline/

For help with counseling and advocacy, local rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters can provide services. To find a center closest to you… you can call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238. That is the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238.

Want to share a story or ask a question? Email me at thevword.radio@gmail.com or tweet me at my twitter account: @preventviolence. You can read the transcript for this show and past shows on my blog at www.thevword.org
The V Word is recorded in the studios of WRIR-LP 97.3, read and produced by me, Carol Olson.

0

Support funding for Sexual and Domestic Violence to be increased in Virginia budget

The Virginia House and Senate have come back to Richmond to finalize the state budget.  They are dealing with a shortfall and additional cuts to the budget.  Help me make sure that funding for sexual and domestic violence remains a priority.

Below is a list of Senate Finance and House Appropriations members – call/email to show support for sexual and domestic violence services, thank them for supporting an increase, ask them to increase funding.  These funds will go to centers all over the state to provide needed services for Rape Crisis Centers, Domestic Violence Programs, Hotlines, Advocacy and other services for survivors.

 

Delegate Chris Jones (R-Suffolk)  — (757) 483-6242  —  elCJones@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Steven Landes (R-Augusta)   —  (540) 255-5335  —  DelSLandes@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Kirkland “Kirk” Cox (R-Colonial Heights)  —  (804) 526-5135  —  DelKCox@house.virginia.gov
Delegate John M. O’Bannon, III (R-Henrico)  —  (804) 282-8640  —  DelJOBannon@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Thomas A. “Tag” Greason (R-Loudoun)  —  (703) 203-3203  —  DelTGreason@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Johnny S. Joannou (D-Portsmouth)  —  (757) 399-1700  —  DelJJoannou@house.virginia.gov

Senator Walter A. Stosch (R-District 12)  —  (804) 527-7780  —  district12@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Charles J. Colgan (D-District 29)  —  (703) 368-0300  —  district29@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Janet D. Howell (D-District 32)  —  (703) 709-8283  —  district32@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (R-District 3)  —  (757) 259-7810  —  district03@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. (R-District 24)  —  (540) 885-6898  —  district24@senate.virginia.gov
Senator John C. Watkins (R-District 10)  —  (804) 379-2063  —  district10@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Richard L. Saslaw (D-District 35)  —  (703) 978-0200  —  district35@senate.virginia.gov

 

Thanks to the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance for the information and their advocacy.  If you have questions, please contact Kristine Hall at khall@vsdvalliance.org or 804-377-0335

0

the V word: Corrective Rape

Welcome to today’s edition of The V Word.

https://soundcloud.com/carol-ann-olson/the-v-word-corrective-rape-aired-june-9-2014

The other day someone was asking me about all the different ways we describe rape and why is it necessary. “Corrective Rape” was one of the terms brought up. What is it and how is it different from “Rape”. Really what the person was asking is that why is some rape considered a hate crime and some is, well, just rape?

As defined by E. Bartle in Lesbians and Hate Crimes – Corrective rape is a hate crime in which people are raped because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It is the use of rape against people who do not conform to perceived social norms of sexuality and gender roles. They goal is to punish perceived abnormal behavior and reinforce the societal norms of heterosexuality and defined gender roles. The common intended consequence of the rape, as seen by the perpetrator, is to turn the person heterosexual or to enforce conformity with rigid gender stereotypes.
While this practice was first identified and termed in South Africa, it can happen and does happen in any community. And while much of the literature talks about corrective rape a happening in other countries, do not kid yourself that it does not happen in the United States, it does. All it takes is an atmosphere supportive of hate crimes against gay men and lesbians to contribute to the practice of corrective rape. A study in 2000,as reported by The Human Rights Watch, suggested this “atmosphere” of acceptance includes the visibility of lesbians within a community, a reaction of indifference to hate crimes by the community, a strong belief in gendered behavior for males and females, and isolated locations.

Corrective rape and other accompanying acts of violence can result in physical and psychological trauma, mutilation, HIV infection, unwanted pregnancy, and may contribute to suicide. Corrective rape is a major contributor to HIV infection in South African lesbians.
Corrective rape is not limited to people under the traditional LGBTQ umbrella. Asexual activist and blogger Julie Decker has observed that corrective rape is common in the asexual community. In a 2013 interview in the Huffington Post, she talks about sexual harassment and assault perpetuated by men who claimed to have the victims interests at heart.

Many believe that corrective rape should be recognized as a hate crime because of the misunderstanding of homosexuality and the animus toward gay people that motivate corrective rape. Perpetrators often think that raping a lesbian, gay, transgender or queer identified person will “correct” their sexual identity, orientation, and gender expression. This type of rape is not always an individual act either, it can have a group mentality to garner support, it can be promoted within a community, and then ignored.

As a survivor, advocate and ally, I have found that rape perpetuated under the guise of “corrective rape” is often minimized by the community. Efforts to serve the victim, to solve the crime, to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice are often pushed aside as less important.

There is a viewpoint that all rape is a hate crime, because it is directed specifically against a gender, an identity, a population. Rape is used to denigrate, control, abuse and force power over another person because they are female, they are transgender, they are gay or lesbian, they display non-conforming gender or sexual identity and expression, they are vulnerable due to disabilities, illness, or immigration status.

For help or information? Here are some options…

If you have been raped, call 911 and go to the nearest emergency room.
For information on how to report in the Richmond, Virginia, USA are, you can call the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100, that is 804-646-5100 or go by a local police station office. The main Richmond office is located at 200 West Grace Street.

To get a forensic exam to collect evidence and receive medical care, the local hospitals in the Richmond area with Forensic Nurse Examiners are at Medical College of Virginia and St. Mary’s Hospital.

For those in Virginia who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer or questioning, you can access a free and confidential telephone service called The LGBTQ Partner Abuse and Sexual Assault Helpline at 1.866.356.6998 Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm for help regarding intimate partner abuse, sexual assault, and stalking. The Virginia Anti-Violence Project at virginiaavp.org stands ready to work with anyone who wants to address anti-LGBTQ violence in Virginia and to help build safe communities. The number again is: 1.866.356.6998.

For listeners from outside of Virginia: GLBT National Hotline @ 1-888-843-4565 or go to GLNH.org/hotline/

For help with counseling and advocacy, local rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters can provide services. To find a center closest to you… you can call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238. That is the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238.

Want to share a story or ask a question? Email me at thevword.radio@gmail.com or tweet me at my twitter account: @preventviolence. You can read the transcript for this show and past shows on my blog at www.thevword.org

The V Word is recorded in the studios of WRIR-LP 97.3, read and produced by me, Carol Olson.

0

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑