Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Group offers tools to end trans domestic violence murder
From a FORGE press release
2015-03-06

This article shared 3790 times since Fri Mar 6, 2015
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Already in the first few months of this year, an unconscionable and seemingly growing number of transwomen, especially trans women of color, have been murdered in the U.S., a fact that is deeply - and rightfully - upsetting to our community.

Circumstance behind a number of these murders seem to be rooted in domestic or intimate partner violence. At least half of these women were killed by their partners or family members. That means they were likely not victims of a random anti-trans hate crime. We must acknowledge that transgender people face domestic and/or intimate violence, and here are tools and resources folks should be aware of.

Acknowledging the existence of domestic and intimate partner violence for transgender people is important in addressing aspects of the latest upsurge in violence. We as individuals and as a community can learn about family and intimate partner violence, and take action to help ourselves and each other get out of violent relationships - before they turn fatal.

These days we know much more about domestic violence in trans lives and have many more resources available to us for helping end it.

One immediate action you can take is sharing this link on your social media - it contains all of the following resources: Ending Trans Domestic Violence ( forge-forward.org/2015/03/ending-trans-domestic-violence-murders )

If you are in an unsafe relationship or know someone else who is, immediate help and resources are available:

Safety planning. If you or someone you know is in a violent or abusive relationship, safety planning is a must, even if you ( or the victim ) choose to remain in the relationship. FORGE has developed a trans-specific safety planning tool that you can use on your own, or help a friend with. It's available at http://forge-forward.org/wp-content/docs/safety-planning-tool.pdf.

Emergency shelter and services. If you or someone you know is in an unsafe relationship and needs help getting out, you can find out what help is available near you by calling the appropriate national, 24/7 hotline:

-The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 ( 1-800-787-3224 TTY )

-Live chat ( limited hours ): www.thehotline.org/what-is-live-chat/ .

-RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE ( 4673 )

Note that if the agency you want to access is funded at least in part by the federal government, by law it cannot discriminate against an individual based on their gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. You can find out more at transequality.org/know-your-rights/survivors-violence .

Anti-violence programs. The U.S. has more than 40 LGBTQ anti-violence organizations that provide a range of support services ( advocacy, accompaniment to the police and/or health care providers, referrals, etc. ) to LGBTQ victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and hate violence. Most are very trans-savvy. A list of LGBTQ anti-violence organizations and the type of crimes they focus on is available at www.avp.org/storage/documents/ncavp_member_affiliate_june2014.pdf .

Everyone can take routine measures to increase their safety:

Safer Dating Tips. Just like automatically putting on your seat belt when you get in the car, if you date people you do not know well, you can routinely engage in some simple protective practices. A trans-specific set of safer dating tips is available at forge-forward.org/wp-content/docs/Safe-Dating-Tips-FINAL.pdf .

Collaborative problem solving strategies. Like everyone else, trans people are seldom taught conflict resolution skills, which can help keep conflicts from escalating into violence. In addition to talking about trans-specific power and control tactics that may be unique to relationships that include one or more trans people, this FORGE training webinar also uses a hypothetical couple facing transition to give examples of positive, collaborative problem-solving strategies: forge-forward.org/event/power-and-control-tactics/ .

Everyone can increase service providers' ability to respectfully help trans survivors:

Anyone can contact domestic violence and sexual assault agencies in their community to help those agencies become more trans-savvy and connected to the trans community ( if they aren't already ). These resources may help agencies increase their knowledge about working with trans clients and survivors:

Webinars. Does your local domestic violence shelter and rape crisis center know that they can access free training 24/7 on how to better serve transgender survivors? FORGE's online archive contains more than three dozen webinars specifically for providers on how to respectfully and effectively work with trans survivors: forge-forward.org/trainings-events/recorded-webinars/ .

Legal requirements. Do your local providers know their legal requirements about serving trans survivors?

-If they are funded under the Violence Against Women Act, the guidelines they need to follow are at ojp.gov/about/ocr/pdfs/vawafaqs.pdf .

-If they are funded by the Family Violence Protection and Services Act, they have assured the government that they have written policies prohibiting harassment based on sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity, and that all staff members have been trained to prevent and respond to harassment or bullying in all forms.

-The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently released new guidelines for homeless shelters. Read more at transequality.org/blog/win-hud-tells-homeless-shelters-to-respect-self-identified-gender .

Local service providers. You can help develop positive relationships between your local trans community and domestic violence and sexual assault service providers by arranging for educational forums and organizing supply drives to ensure these agencies have trans-specific supplies like wigs and binders. To locate your local service providers, contact the appropriate national, 24/7 hotline:

-Domestic violence: 1-800-799-7233 ( 1-800-787-3224 TTY )

-Live chat ( limited hours ): www.thehotline.org/what-is-live-chat/ .

-Sexual assault: 1-800-656-HOPE ( 4673 )

Everyone can help create a safer environment for trans people:

"Let's Talk about Domestic Violence in the Transgender Community" has simple steps everyone can take to help reduce the conditions in which domestic violence flourishes, such as: avoiding stereotypes, reaching out to those who are isolated, listening, and not using trans-excluding terms such as "Violence Against Women." The article is available at everydayfeminism.com/2014/03/domestic-violence-trans-community/ .

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs' "Community Action Toolkit for Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Against Transgender People" includes a number of ideas and tools: www.avp.org/storage/documents/ncavp_trans_ipvtoolkit.pdf .

Learn more:

FORGE is the nation's leading trans organization working on anti-violence issues. You can sign up to be notified when we put out new training or resource materials by signing up on our website ( www.forge-forward.org ) or by following us on

-Facebook. ( www.facebook.com/FORGE.trans )

-Twitter. ( twitter.com/FORGEforward )

-Instagram ( instagram.com/forge_forward/ )

National Center for Transgender Equality's anti-violence resource page:

-http://www.transequality.org/issues/anti-violence

Several of the resources listed above give more background information on how domestic violence affects the transgender community, including:

-forge-forward.org/wp-content/docs/safety-planning-tool.pdf .

-www.avp.org/storage/documents/ncavp_trans_ipvtoolkit.pdf .

-everydayfeminism.com/2014/03/domestic-violence-trans-community/ .

We cannot prevent all violence that may be directed our way, but we can take steps to lower the chances we are harmed by the people we live with or date. Learn what you can do, and teach others. We can make a difference.

ABOUT FORGE

FORGE is a progressive organization whose mission is to support, educate and advocate for the rights and lives of transgender individuals and SOFFAs ( Significant Others, Friends, Family, and Allies ). FORGE is dedicated to helping move fragmented communities beyond identity politics and forge a movement that embraces and empowers our diverse complexities.


This article shared 3790 times since Fri Mar 6, 2015
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Lambda Legal Launches "Speak OUT" awareness campaign uplifting trans, nonbinary voices
2024-03-28
--From a press release. VIDEO BELOW - (NEW YORK, NY — March 28, 2024) In advance of Transgender Day of Visibility, Lambda Legal, the nation's oldest and largest legal nonprofit working to achieve full equal rights for LGBTQ people and everyone living with ...


Gay News

Nex Benedict's autopsy report released
2024-03-27
The full autopsy report for Nex Benedict (he/they)—a 16-year-old transgender and Indigenous student from Oklahoma's Owasso High School who died in February a day after a school fight—has been released. The Oklahoma Office of the Chie ...


Gay News

Thailand parliament passes landmark marriage bill
2024-03-27
On March 27, Thailand's parliament approved a marriage-equality bill by an overwhelmingly large margin—a landmark step that moves one of Asia's most liberal countries closer to legalizing same-sex unions, media ...


Gay News

An interstate trans healthcare crisis: Illinois prepares for influx of people seeking gender-affirming care
2024-03-26
With hard-won rights, such as access to hormone replacement therapy or permission to use one's chosen pronouns in school, breaking down in states across the country, trans residents of all ages are left with a choice: ...


Gay News

Wyoming is latest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors
2024-03-24
On March 22, Wyoming became the latest state to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, The Hill noted. In doing so, it joined 23 other states that passed laws restricting or banning the treatment. Legislators in both ...


Gay News

Family of 2004 murder victim holds event in Lake View; reward announced
2024-03-24
The year 2004, for the family and friends of Lake View resident Kevin Clewer, will forever be marked by tragedy. On March 24 of that year, Clewer, 31, was found in his apartment at 3444 N. Elaine Pl.; he was the ...


Gay News

No charges filed in Nex Benedict fight; campaigns call for Walters' removal
2024-03-22
In Oklahoma, Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler announced that no charges will be filed in connection with the fight that happened the day before transgender, nonbinary high school student Nex Benedict died by suicide, NBC ...


Gay News

JP Karliak morphs into non-binary character for Disney+'s X-Men '97
2024-03-22
series X-Men '97, a revival of the popular X-men: The Animated Series that's both continuing the ongoing mutant storyline and breaking new ground along the way. The character of Morph now looks more like the comic ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Va. marriage bill, AARP, online counseling, Idaho items, late activist
2024-03-21
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills protecting same-sex marriages at a state level, surprising some, WRIC reported. The bills—passed out of both chambers along mostly party lines—will require clerks ...


Gay News

Almost 8% of U.S. residents identify as LGBTQ+
2024-03-16
The proportion of U.S. adults identifying as LGBTQ+ continues to increase. LGBTQ+ identification in the U.S. continues to grow, with 7.6% of U.S. adults now identifying as LGBTQ+, according to the newest Gallup poll results that ...


Gay News

WORLD Leaked messages, Panama action, author dies at 32, Japan court, out athletes
2024-03-15
Hundreds of messages from an internal chat board for an international group of transgender health professionals were leaked in a report and framed as revealing serious health risks associated with gender-affirming care, including cancer, according to ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Missouri measure, HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, judge, Texas schools
2024-03-15
In Missouri, a newly proposed law could charge teachers and counselors with a felony and require them to register as sex offenders if they're found guilty of supporting transgender students who are socially transitioning, CNN noted. ...


Gay News

College athletes sue NCAA over transgender policies
2024-03-15
Former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines was among a group of college athletes who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on March 14, accusing it of violating their Title IX rights by allowing trans swimmer Lia Thomas ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Lady Gaga, 'P-Valley,' Wendy Williams, Luke Evans, 'Queer Eye,' 'Transition'
2024-03-15
Lady Gaga came to the defense of Dylan Mulvaney after a post with the trans influencer/activist for International Women's Day received hateful responses, People Magazine noted. On Instagram, Gaga stated, "It's appalling to me that a ...


Gay News

SPORTS Red Stars prepare to kick off NWSL season against Utah Royals
2024-03-15
It's been a busy winter for the Red Stars, and it's time to put their work to the test. Following a last place finish in the 2023 NWSL season, Chicago has had an active offseason transforming ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.