Incidents of Bias / Hate Crimes and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Allied Community

Have you ever:

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Bias crimes range from verbal harassment, phone, and e-mail harassment, property damage, threats of assault, being assaulted or "basehd," rape, and murder. Almost every lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer person has experienced some form of bias crime or knows someone who has.

Many of us have become so used to violence being perpetrated against us that we tend to "expect" certain harassments for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or queer. But the truth is, it's never OK to be harassed or hurt because of who you are or who you're perceived to be. Don't downplay what has happened to you by comparing it to other "more serious" assaults. All bias crimes and harassments are painful and threatening.

Bias crimes against those identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer not only hurt the intended victim, they also send a threatening message of hate and fear to the larger community. In this way, whether we have been personally attacked or not, we are all victims of these bias crimes.

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT

You may feel responsible for what happened to you. Many victims report feeling they were "too gay looking" or "shouldn't have worn those clothes" or "should never have gone to that event." You may begin feeling like you did something wrong, or that there is something wrong with you for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or queer.

There is nothing wrong with you! The person who has hurt or harassed you has the problem.

RECOVERY FROM A BIAS INCIDENT OR HATE CRIME

Because a hate crime or bias incident is an assault on your identity, you might begin to feel there is somethign wrong with who you are. You might try to change the way you dress or look to protect yourself for fear of appearing lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, or queer. You may avoid LGBTQ events or gathering places for the same reason. You may find that you avoid showing affection toward your lover in public. Or you may avoid getting help because you're minimizing what happened to you or because you fear being further harassed by officials.

If not talked about, these kinds of reactions can make recover from a bias crime very difficult. Sometimes freinds and family may say things that can make you feel worse when they are actually trying to help. It's important to get help from a place properly trained to help LGBT individuals when you have been the victim of a bias crime.

Some common physical reactions for victims are headaches, stomachaches, difficulty sleeping, lack of energy, sexual difficulties, and a change in appetite. It is also normal to have emotional responses, including anger, denial, anxiety, depression, loneliness, fear, nightmares, flashbacks, self-blame, irratability, and difficulty with concentration.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

There are a number of on-campus resources you may contact in the case of a bias incident or hate crime, including: