|
 Violence
comes in all kinds of forms: threats, intimidating harassment,
assault, bias-motivated crimes, domestic violence. In whatever
shape it rears
its head, we cannot tolerate it.
No one should face violence because of their sexual
orientation
or gender identity. Yet LGBT people are disproportionately the victims
of
bias-motivated harassment and assault, even murders; violence against
individuals
because of real or perceived sexual orientation is one of the most
prevalent
forms of hate-motivated violence in the U.S. In one survey of gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Massachusetts,
over 80% reported having been verbally harassed based on sexual
orientation at some point in their lives. As many as
45% of women and 64% of men also reported having experienced physical
threats or assaults based on sexual orientation. Though underreported,
violence against
transgendered individuals may in fact be the most prevalent of all
anti-LGBT
violence. In addition to hate-motivated violence, same-sex domestic
violence deserves real, responsive attention.
In 1997, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs documented
3,327 cases of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender domestic
violence.
Legal organizations have a dual responsibility to LGBT
survivors of violence:
to provide them with resources and support, and to make sure the law is
responsive to their needs. GLAD helps people understand
their rights, find out how the law protects them, and connect to
competent, sensitive
legal and support resources. And
while we are dedicated to raising awareness about current legal avenues
to
remedy anti-LGBT violence, it is also imperative that we advocate to
expand
existing protections to make sure LGBT people are fully protected by
the
law. GLAD offers itself today and every day as a community
resource.
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