Pride Month

The end of June signaled the end of Pride Month; however, we want the community to know we welcome and support victims in the LGBTQ+ community all year round. Pride Month celebrations started to commemorate the riots that broke out as a result of a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Two trans women of color, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, are most notable for resisting the police on that day in 1969. From there, celebrating these protests became a yearly event, which has evolved into what Pride Month is today. Pride parades, marches, and celebrations are held all month long, throughout the country, to remember those who have fought for the progress that has been made and the rights and protections that the community is still fighting for. It has also become a time for those in the community to celebrate proudly who they are. (https://sites.psu.edu/womeninhistory/2016/10/23/the-unsung-heroines-of-stonewall-marsha-p-johnson-and-sylvia-rivera/ )

            The LGBTQ+ community has long fought for equal rights and treatment in this country. They face many difficulties unique to their community, including higher rates of violence. Even though they face higher rates of violence, including intimate partner violence and sexual assault, they also experience unique barriers to receiving services. Some of these barriers include not knowing what services are available and if those services are accepting of LGBTQ+ people, having to disclose their sexuality and/or gender identity when they feel it is not safe, lack of confidence in the court and police systems to handle their cases competently due to stigma, discrimination, lack of inclusive laws, and lack of awareness and knowledge of LGBTQ+ culture and needs. (https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Intimate-Partner-Violence-and-Sexual-Abuse-among-LGBT-People.pdf )

            Here at Transitions we strive to be a welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people who are victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other serious crimes. We have various posts and signs throughout our offices indicating we are a safe place for this community. We work to train our staff to be culturally competent to serve this population well. We recognize that violence can occur within same gender relationships and to those who identify as transgender or non-binary.

Speaking for myself, I have learned a lot about LGBTQ+ inclusion since working at Transitions, though I recognize I have much more to learn. As someone who identifies as a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I can tell you that this organization is always working to be more sensitive and inclusive, while recognizing that we don’t have everything right. I hope that if you are a victim or survivor and are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, this will make you more confident in seeking our services. We can provide you with counseling, legal advocacy, medical advocacy, safe house, safety planning, crisis counseling, and more, regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. We hope to be a guiding light for you as you navigate the trauma you have experienced.

Written by: Missy H, Union County Legal Advocate