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A guide for Lesbian and Gay survivors of violent crimes
 Eighty
percent of lesbians and gay men have experienced some form of anti-gay
or anti-lesbian bias-related violence.
Gay men and lesbians are more than four times more
likely to become crime victims than heterosexuals.
Each year, thousands of gay and lesbian become victims
of violent crime. Often they are assaulted by total strangers. Sometimes
they are attacked by people they may know, including family members
or lovers.
Many survivors of violence are reluctant to seek
help from social service agencies, the police or the criminal justice
system because they anticipate a hostile response to their sexual
orientation or a lack of sensitivity to their specific needs. Others
may simply be unaware of the services available to help them through
the trauma of victimization.
Reactions
to Victimization
There are many normal physical or psychological reactions to the
trauma of victimization. Emotional reactions such as denial -
trying to forget or pretend that the crime never happened - anger,
isolation, fear, depression and problems with concentration are
common.
Survivors
of violent crime may also experience physical problems that seem
unrelated to an assault such as head or stomach aches. Insomnia,
change in appetite, sexual difficulties and general listlessness
are also common physical changes suffered by crime victims.
You
can also consider taking any of a number of steps:
- Get
medical attention
Consult a physician or hospital emergency room, even if you do
not believe that you have been seriously injured. Do this as soon
after an assault as possible. Contact Student
Health Services 215-349-8246, Campus
Police 215-898-7297 or from a campus phone, dial 511. If you
think you are too sick to walk to Student
Health, you should call us at 215-349-8246. The triage nurse
will review your symptoms and need for emergency transportation.
If appropriate, she will then notify Campus Police to bring you
to Student Health.
If a non-student (e.g. friend, spouse, child or parent) has a
medical emergency, notify campus
police at 215-898-7333 and then call Philadelphia Fire/Rescue
Squad at 911. Adults will be taken to the Hospital of the University
of Pennsylvania Emergency Department and children under 17 years
to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
- Document
the incident
Keep accurate records of an incident. Document physical injuries
with photographs. Retain any written harassment you receive. Keep
a log of the time and date of harassing phone calls. if harassing
messages have been left on your answering machine, keep the tape.
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Take care of yourself
Talking about the incident to supportive friends, lovers or family
members can be helpful. Accept your feelings and reactions to
the trauma. You may find it helpful to discuss the incident with
a counselor at CAPS
at 215-898-7021
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Reporting Crimes to the Police
There is no requirement that you report a crime to the police.
The decision about filing a report, called a "complaint"
or "61" by the police, is yours as the survivor of a
crime. Do what is most comfortable for you. Keep in mind that
police reports are public record and under most circumstances
can be released to the media.
You can contact Special
Serivces at Penn. The Special Services Department is responsible
for victim support services. Special Services offers a comprehensive
program to assist crime victims and other persons with special
problems requiring police intervention, with an emphasis on services
to victims of crimes against persons. Highly trained personnel
are available to offer immediate assistance and support at the
scene of the crime, including crisis intervention, accompaniment
to legal and medical proceedings, and linkages to other University
and community resources. Given the individual's authorization,
they can interact with an academic department, Housing Services
or College Houses and Academic Programs to coordinate support
in these areas. Every effort is made to protect the confidentiality
of private information. To contact Special Services call 215-898-9001
(normal business hours 9am-5pm M-F). For emergencies, 24-hours-a-day,
call 8-6600 from a campus phone.
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Safety Information
You cannot insure that you will never become a crime victim. No
crime victim is to blame for the crime committed against them.
Nevertheless, these few safety tips may be helpful:
- Find
out about any local "danger zones" in the neighborhoods
you frequent where lesbians and gay men may have been attacked.
Avoid these areas especially if you are alone.
- If
you feel threatened or unsafe, trust your instincts and remove
yourself from the situation as quickly as possible. Run. bang
garbage cans. Make noise. Yell "FIRE!" Call 911
or 511 on campus for police assistance as soon as possible.
- Letting
someone you do not know into your apartment or resident hall
makes you vulnerable to robbery and assault. If you leave
a bar with someone you have just met, introduce him or her
to a friend or bartender. Let other people know that you are
leaving together. Exchange names and telephone numbers.
- Women
should be aware of men in "mixed" bars who claim
to be gay and invite women to their homes. Be wary of taxis
that wait outside of women's bars.
- Try
to leave bars, community centers and other LGBT identified
facilities with people you know or trust. Assailants sometimes
wait for potential victims outside of places where Lesbians
and Gay men meet and gather.
- Carry
a whistle. Consider taking a self-defense class.
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