ae606 3/18/96
		Respect yourself! Demand Respect
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			VIOLENCE

Everyone is endangered by violence, but some people are targets just because
of who they are. Just as harassing people for their skin color or religion
is bullshit, so is attacking women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, or people
with AIDS. If you have a problem with gay or lesbian people, get over it!
Give respect, and demand respect from other people.

Physical assault is beating, hitting, kicking, or otherwise hurting someone.
When someone assaults you because they think you're gay, it's gay-bashing.
Nobody has the right to assault you -- not even your parents or the person
you date.

Rape is when a woman or man is forced to have sex when they have not clearly
agreed to. When you hear no, that means no. Date Rape or Acquaintance Rape
is when a woman or man is forced to have sex with someone they know (and
often, trust).

Incest is when anyone is forced to have sex with a relative. This happens
most often to young people, who are told to keep quiet about it.

Sexual harassment -- unwanted comments, whistles, sexual gestures, or
touching -- is also violence.

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What do you do if you are a victim of 
assault, gay-bashing, rape, incest, or harassment?

  1. Tell someone you trust.

  2. Get help. There are several groups listed in the Resources that can
     help you. If you've been raped, assaulted, gay-bashed, or sexually
     harassed, call one of these groups before you call the police, if you
     can.

  3. Remember that it is not your fault. You did not ask for it, you do not
     deserve it, and you have a right to respect. If you want to, press
     charges.

 WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE BEEN ABUSED
 
1. Get to a place where you will be safe from further attack.
 
For your own protection, call the police immediately, especially if the abuser
is still nearby.
 
Call a friend, family member, crisis intervention service, or counseling
center
for support.
 
2. Get medical attention, if needed.
 
3. Seek crisis intervention and counseling assistance.
 
Domestic abuse or dating violence is terrifying and traumatic.  If you have
been abused, it is not uncommon to feel afraid, confused, guilty, ashamed,
or isolated.  You should not try to deal with these feelings alone.  There are
many concerned and professionally trained people

 
 Violence is never an acceptable way to deal with anger. Studies
 show that there is some incidence of Lesbian battering. The only
 difference between it and heterosexual battering is that there is less of
 it and there are fewer services for Lesbian battered and batterers.
 Lesbians also tend to get out of such relationships faster than women do
 with violent men. Still, Lesbian battering will exist as long as there are
 Lesbians with poor anger/impulse control who learned patterns of family
 violence and who have Lesbian partners with low self-esteem. If you do
 experience battering, end the relationship. This is the only action a
 batterer understands. A cycle of violence always escalated, despite
 grandiose apologies and promises.