Domestic violence during the physically distanced isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the LGBTQ community especially hard, said a virtual panel of experts at a recent Boston University forum. (You can watch the full panel here.)
The panel discussion, held by BU’s Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism and its Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center, found “the severity of abuse is particularly concerning for the LGBTQ community because isolation with abusers makes manipulation easier,” reported BU’s Daily Free Press.
“Queer and transgender people pre-pandemic were already more isolated from potential family members and friends,” panelist Dr. Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz, a Framingham State University assistant professor of sociology, told the Free Press.
This situation is greatly worsened by added financial stress brought on by the pandemic, noted Guadalupe-Diaz.
“Queer and trans people were disproportionately affected by economic hardships, because they’re overrepresented in sectors of the economy that are closed or locked down or in some way severely impacted, and so I’m thinking those stressors might be disproportionate as well,” said Guadalupe-Diaz.
If you or someone you know may be a victim of domestic violence, they can find support — including counseling, advocacy and referral services especially for LGBTQ people — at Fenway Health’s Violence Recovery Program. The program also helps victims of bias crime and sexual assault. For more, to the Violence Recover Program’s website or for the Boston Office call (617) 927-6250; for The Western Mass. Office (in Springfield), call (857) 313-6638; or for the Cape Cod office (in Harwich), call (857) 313-6681.
Another great resource is The Network/La Red, “a survivor-led, social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, SM, polyamorous, and queer communities.”
You can also find a list with contact information for “Safe Spaces for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and or/Allied” page on the mass.gov website.
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