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Facts About
Homosexual Sexual Assault Victims |
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Studies suggest that the amount of
acquaintance rape and marital rape for homosexuals is as high as that for heterosexuals. |
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Homosexual victims may fear seeking help
for fear of being ridiculed. |
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Crisis
Intervention Tips |
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Do a safety check. Make sure the caller is in a safe
place. |
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Help dispel the myths surrounding sexual assault by
providing information. |
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Provide information about sexual assault and STAR
services. |
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Empower the caller. Let her/him lead the intervention
and use the terminology that the caller uses when speaking about the assault. |
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Be gentle. Remember the victim may be cautious due to a
fear about being judged not only about the assault but also about her/his sexual
preference. |
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Give praise to the caller for calling STAR. It took
courage |
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Help the caller develop a plan of action: Who else can
the caller turn to for support? What should be done next? Where can additional help be
found? |
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Do a safety check. Make sure that he is in a safe
place. |
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Special
Needs |
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Homosexual victims have the same needs as other
victims. The primary difference for crisis intervention is the issue of sexuality.
Reinforce the facts about sexual assault; sexual assault can and does happen among all
populations. Recognize that the victim may feel reluctant to discuss the assault out of
fear of being judged or out of the belief that crisis lines aren’t available or
sensitive to homosexuals. |
Special Population (1 of 3) Gay/Lesbian Victims of Sexual Assault
