During Pride Month, the Boston Rape Area Crisis Center celebrates the resilience and strength of the LGBTQ+ community. Whether it’s been saving lives through AIDS activism or winning marriage equality, the LGBTQ+ community has continuously fought back against oppression over the past half a century since the Stonewall Riots. We also want to take this time to reaffirm our commitment to dismantling systems that perpetrate harm and sexual violence and creating safer spaces for all survivors.

Research shows that members of the LGBTQ+ community are statistically more likely to experience sexual and intimate partner violence during their lifetimes:

  • Half of all transgender people have experienced sexual violence.
  • Nearly half of bisexual men (47%) and bisexual women (46%) experience rape during their lifetime.
  • Approximately 13% of lesbian women and 40% of gay men have been raped.

And yet, only one in five LGBTQ+ victims of intimate partner violence or sexual assault receive  help from service providers.  Survivors also face multiple barriers to care, including fear of discrimination or denial of services by providers.  They may also worry that by reporting or seeking care, they will be falsely labeled as the offender.

At BARCC, our goal is to tackle these disparities and amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ folks in everything we do.  For instance, BARCC provides trauma-informed therapeutic services to survivors of all sexualities and gender identities.  In accordance with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) six key principles of a trauma-informed approach, our care is responsive to “Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues.”

In essence, being trauma-informed means learning how to best serve members of the LGBTQ+ community.  As an organization founded by and for survivors, one of our core values is survivor-centeredness.  We want to learn from our survivor’s expertise over their own experiences and needs.  That is why our intake process asks survivors to consider what support groups, existing or imagined, would best meet their needs. As a result, we have offered a support group for transgender and non-binary survivors, in addition to our men, women, and gender expansive groups.  No matter what groups we have running, transgender and non-binary are encouraged to join the group that feels the most comfortable and affirms who they are.

In addition to our trauma-informed direct services programs, BARCC advocates for survivors at all levels, including public policy.  We use our expertise to educate policymakers on important issues related survivor wellbeing and sexual violence mitigation.  Team members seek political change in many different ways, including taking part in local task forces, meeting with legislators, and signing onto advocacy campaigns.

BARCC has been a strong advocate for Massachusetts’ Healthy Youth Act since its introduction in 2011. This legislation would provide students with consent-focused, LGBTQ-inclusive sex and relationship education that can help prevent sexual violence. Currently, 82% of LGBTQ+ youth do not see themselves represented in their sex ed curriculum.  The Healthy Youth Act advocates for comprehensive sex education that is proven to reduce bullying against LGBTQ youth and increase safer sexual behaviors across all sexualities and gender identities.

While Pride Month is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to preventing and addressing sexual violence against LGBTQ+ folks, the work doesn’t stop here.  Our mission is to end sexual violence for everyone through healing and social change, no matter the time of year.  If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate support, please call our hotline 24/7 at 800-841-8371 or reach out to us at barcc.org/chat.

Other Posts:
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer survivors | We are here for you.”
“Transgender survivors | We are here for you.”

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Dedicated to Healing and Empowerment, Advocating for Change.

Together, we can end sexual violence.