Resources for Marginalized Communities
Safer is a resource for all Cal Poly students, faculty and staff regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, documentation status, ethnicity, national origin, or religious background. There are many resources available on campus, in our community and nationally if you or someone you love has experience sexual violence.
LBGTQ+ Community • People of Color • International & Undocumented Immigrants • People w/ Disabilities • Survivors of Childhood Sex Abuse
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
Community Resources
RISE – LGBTQIA+ Survivors
- RISE is a local non-profit in San Luis Obispo County
National Resources
GLBTQ Domestic Violence Project
- Website, information and hotline for GLBTQ victims of domestic violence and their families. Hotline: 800.832.1901
The Network la Red
- The Network/La Red hotline provides emotional support, information, and safety planning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and/or transgender folks, as well as folks in the BDSM or Polyamorous communities who are being abused or have been abused by a partner. Support available in English and Spanish. Hotline: 617.742.4911
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs
- A coalition of programs that document and advocate for victims of anti-LGBT and anti-HIV/AIDS violence/harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, police misconduct and other forms of victimization. Site has a list of local anti-violence programs and publications. Hotline: 212.714.1141
The Trevor Project
- Help and suicide prevention for GBLTQ youth. Hotline: 866.488.7386
GLBT National Hotline
- Call center that refers to over 15,000 resources across the country that support LGBTQ individuals. Hotline: 888.THE.GLNH (843.4564)
FORGE (For Ourselves: Reworking Gender Expression)
- Home to the Transgender Sexual Violence Project. Provides services and publishes research for transgender persons experiencing violence and their loved ones.
Additional Resources
“Let’s Talk About It: A Transgender Survivor’s Guide to Accessing Therapy”
- A comprehensive guide by Forge.
Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Issues in Counseling
- Directory of LGBT-friendly mental health specialists across the United States. Specialists listed are verified members of AGLBTIC, a division of the American Counseling Association.
Including the LGBT Community When Addressing Sexual Violence on College Campuses – The Center for American Progress
- This article discusses sexual assault in the LGBTQ community on college campuses. The article discusses Title IX, the effect on survivors, and cultural competence.
Human Rights Campaign
- As a community, LGBTQ people face higher rates of poverty, stigma, and marginalization, which put us at greater risk for sexual assault. We also face higher rates of hate-motivated violence, which can often take the form of sexual assault. Moreover, the ways in which society both hypersexualizes LGBTQ people and stigmatizes our relationships can lead to intimate partner violence that stems from internalized homophobia and shame.
PEOPLE OF COLOR
National Resources
Arte Sana
- Arte Sana (art heals) is a national Latina-led nonprofit committed to ending sexual violence and other forms of gender-based aggressions and engage marginalized communities as agents of change.
Black Women’s Blueprint
- Traumatic experiences such as sustaining crime and abuse can create distressing reactions that are at times overwhelming and could linger for months or years after. Black Women’s Blueprint specializes in helping traumatized women, cis and trans and LGBTQ survivors of crime and abuse.
National Organization of Asians and Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Assault
- NAPIESV is a national organization established by Asian and Pacific Islander anti-sexual assault advocates to give voice to the experiences of Asian and Pacific Islander women and girls who are victims of sexual assault.
National Association of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault
- The National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA) is an advocacy organization of Women of Color dedicated to working with our communities to create a just society in which all Women of Color are able to live healthy lives free of violence.
National Indian Country Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault
- Browse through the NICCSA site and find important federal legislation, Tribal codes, cutting edge articles by Indian Country experts, and funding opportunities.
National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
- The National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, Inc. (NIWRC) is a Native nonprofit organization that was created specifically to serve as the National Indian Resource Center (NIRC) Addressing Domestic Violence and Safety for Indian Women.
INTERNATIONAL AND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
National Resources
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
- As a national expert, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) provides technical assistance, trainings and practice manuals on critical immigration options for vulnerable immigrants including immigrant victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and other crimes.
National Immigration Law Center
- Worker’s Rights and U Visas
Additional Resources
Know Your IX: Title IX and Immigration
- International and undocumented students, unlike their American citizen counterparts, face additional immigration considerations when filing Title IX complaints.
American Immigration Council – Protections for Immigrant Women and Victims of Crime
- “With approximately 19 million immigrant women and girls in the United States, nearly half of the foreign-born population is female. Unfortunately, many of these immigrant women, particularly those who are unauthorized, are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Immigrant women are more likely to experience exploitation while entering the country, while working, and even within their homes.”
Tahririh Justice Center
- Through direct services, policy advocacy, and training and education, Tahirih protects immigrant women and girls and promotes a world where women and girls enjoy equality and live in safety and dignity.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
National Resources
Deaf Abused Women’s Network (DAWN)
- Legal, medical, system advocacy and survivor support services. Video Phone: 202.559.5366
CAVANET
- This organization addresses violence against women, human rights, genocide, and crime victims with disabilities.
National Disability Rights Network
- NDRN members investigate reports of abuse and neglect, and seek systemic change to prevent further incidents; advocate for basic rights; and ensure accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems for individuals with disabilities.
Additional Resources
VAWNet – Deaf Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence
- While limited research exists regarding the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence within the Deaf community, it is known that Deaf individuals experience violence at significant rates. The need for further research is clear, as well as the need for enhanced services and supports to meet the unique needs of Deaf survivors.
CALCASA – Supporting Sexual Assault Survivors with Disabilities
- Survivors of sexual violence with disabilities live in every community and can benefit from the full range of sexual assault services. 1 Yet, many abuse survivors with disabilities in our communities do not know about services or how to get help when they are sexually assaulted.
SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE
National Resources
RAINN – Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
- If you’re an adult who experienced sexual abuse as a child, know that you are not alone. Every eight minutes, a child is sexually assaulted in the U.S.1, and 93 percent know the perpetrator2. Many perpetrators of sexual abuse are in a position of trust or responsible for the child’s care, such as a family member, teacher, clergy member, or coach. No matter what, the abuse was not your fault. It’s never too late to start healing from this experience
ASCA – Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA SM) is an international self-help support group program designed specifically for adult survivors of neglect, physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse. The ASCA SMprogram offers:
- Community based self-help support groups
- Provider based self-help support groups
- Web based self-help support groups
- Survivor to Thriver workbooks
National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
- Recovery from child abuse is available, if we work for it. There are many paths to recovering from child abuse, and some of them cost almost no money at all. Then, too, there are benefits from getting assistance from the professional community trained to assist us. Furthermore, there are numerous government and non-profit groups we can turn to for help. The point is there are many paths to healing and many tools to consider using. We offer you hope.