Treatment and Service Interventions for Lesbian and Gay Male Crime Victims

Abstract

This article describes the development of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) since 1980. After a brief historical overview of the emergence of the victims' modern crime movement and a discussion of how the gay and lesbian victims' movement is related to it, AVP's treatment and service interventions are described. These include crisis intervention immediately after an attack and a wide variety of follow-up services, including short-term professional counseling, peer counseling, and group counseling. The AVP also provides advocacy services, including police advocacy, court monitoring, and advocacy with other human service organizations. In describing the AVP's activities, the article highlights unique problems faced by lesbian and gay survivors of assault.

Women’s Experiences of Male-Perpetrated Sexual Assault by Sexual Orientation

“…We expected heterosexual women to be more likely to report coerced sex than lesbians or bisexual women, and all three groups to be equally likely to report attempted or completed rape (Balsam et al, 2005). Finally, we expected similar levels of depression and PTSD between sexual orientation groups, but we also expected that lesbian and bisexual survivors might report higher levels of self-blame for their assaults (Garnets et al, 1990;Wertheimer, 1990). We did not have any specific hypothesis about the survivor's type of relationship with the male offender (e.g., stranger, romantic partner, family member or relative, acquaintance).…”

“…Survivors and the people they tell might feel (sometimes legitimately in the case of hate crimes) that sexual orientation played a role in the attack and therefore place misguided blame on the survivor (Garnets, Herek, & Levy, 1990;Wertheimer, 1990). Aside from the general correlates of self-blame for assault, such as depression and PTSD (Ullman & Brecklin, 2002), increased blame may possibly lead a lesbian or bisexual survivor to question her sexual orientation, depending on where she is in the identification and coming out process (Garnets et al, 1990).…”

“…For instance, even if the perpetrator is a man, lesbian and bisexual women may fear revealing their sexual orientation to strangers or family who are not aware of it, or might encounter disbelief that sexual violence can happen to lesbians and bisexual women (Balsam et al, 2005, Pitt & Dolan-Soto, 2001Turell, 1999;Wertheimer, 1990). Although the emotional impact of assault may depend on responses of the victim, reactions of support sources to assault disclosure can have a significant impact on a survivor's recovery as well (Campbell, Ahrens, Sefl, Wasco, & Barnes, 2001;Ullman, 1999).…”

“To Protect and to Serve?”: An Exploration of Police Conduct in Relation to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community

“…Therefore, community organizations often are the only resources that victims utilize for assistance and support (Comstock 1991;Jenness and Broad 1997; The Anti-Violence Program of the GLCAC and National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs 1996; Kuehnle and Sullivan 2001;United States House of Representatives 1992, 1999Wertheimer 1990).…”

Homophobic Violence and the Self 'At Risk': Interrogating the Boundaries

“…As such, its documentation is a positive step in highlighting the danger in the denial of civil rights to gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals and has led to many initiatives to address the needs of the victims of homophobic abuse and violence (Garnets, Herek and Levy, 1992;Wertheimer, 1992). The use of the term victim is significant here.…”