4.1 Oppression, Relationship and Street Violence/Bashing

The Oppression, Relationship and Street Violence/Bashing Stream focused on a range of violence including relationship violence, community street violence, assault and oppression. Given their broad focus, the group was able to only touch briefly on each of these topics, and felt that more work on oppression, relationship and street violence/ bashing was needed.

Range of Violence against LGBT (particularly in rural areas)

The group explored examples of the range of violence faced by LGBT people, particularly those in rural areas. The range was broad including everything from murder to dirty looks, from financial control to physical bashing, from public views that LGBT's are sinful or immoral to threats of outing, and from insults to feeling silenced by hearing derogatory comments toward others. Examples included:

• Violence is both external (others hurting us) and internal (internalized fear and hate). We are socialized to hate ourselves. We must address the full range of violence.
• Fear is the biggest result of all forms of violence.
• Violence within the LGBT community includes demands on what it means to be queer and to act queer - if we don't fit in, we fear not being accepted.
• Homophobia: a deep rooted fear of homosexual behaviour which can lead to homopathic behavior (gay man comes on to a heterosexual man who then kills the gay man and can claim a legal defence reducing charge to manslaughter because of panic).
• Transphobia: a fear and/or distrust of transgendered persons. Transgendered is a term which is used to refer to all people whose gender identity is ambiguous, dual, or changing, for example transvestites, butch lesbians, cross-dressers drag-queens, drag-kings and transsexuals.
• Biphobia: a fear and/or distrust of bisexual persons.
• Heterosexism: a societal belief that only values heterosexual relationships. LGBT's only see heterosexual images, and this eats our self-esteem. It is hard to be a proud, assertive and productive member of society when that society doesn't value you, or acknowledge you exist.
• The more immediate danger is homophobia which results in actual physical danger, however, heterosexism may be worse in the long run, because like most oppressions, it is about power and it is more pervasive, less easy to see in mainstream society. Many people wouldn't agree with active homophobia yet are oblivious to heterosexism.
• 'Special rights!' Those that say that, have no clue that we want the same rights as everyone else. We want equality, not special rights.
• Sometime we don't act to address hate crimes because of our own internal fears.
• Violence is also exploitation of young people.
• There is little information on violence within LGBT relationships.
• Violence also includes emotional violence within our communities.
• I have questions around inclusion - where do I fit in? As a native, as queer, as a white person?
• We have to be careful where we are out, where we kiss or hold hands because we are afraid of the potential for violence.
• This society has a 'binary system' for gender. Each of us have responsibility to address it.
• I am now transitioning from female to male and can now see how sexist and misogynist the world is, in fact, I am benefiting from it. It's opened my eyes to the truth about sexism.
• Violence includes partner pain, that is, seeing the violence which happened to my partner.
• I was always seen as different in school and was ridiculed. I went through school as single gay parent and my child was ridiculed in her school. There was no support for either of us.
• The police were only concerned with the crime as a break and enter, not with the assault, when it was actually a homophobic assault, a hate crime.
• Homophobia on reserves is very high, so it is hard to feel safe to be out.
• Another type of violence are the stereotypes of us in heterosexual communities. We're only defined by the sex act 'we are only viewed as being in bed,' and this doesn't reflect the richness of our lives.
• Bigots help us because they show the need for the human rights amendments and how bad the prejudice really is out there in society. They make it really clear why we need protection.
• We need to realize where we've come from (our family issues) and work on healing our past (parenting issues) so that we break the cycle of internalized hate and oppression.

Scenario #1: Roadside Bashing (Two Queers are walking down the road in a small rural town in BC. A car stops and several men get out and start harassing them. After verbally harassing them and screaming derogatory comments, they violently pushed the queers into the ditch. The men jump in their car and speed off screaming more insults.) What are the strategies we need to use to deal with the situation, immediately, in the short term, in the longer term and proactively?

Immediate Strategies

• First make sure you're okay (e.g. stop bleeding) and that you're safe (are they actually gone).
• Call the police and/or emergency services.
• Try to get the license # and description of car and note which way it was heading.
• Express your feelings -- hug-rant-rage-cry.
• Write down all details, everything you remember, and get photos ASAP.
• Be aware that you may not get the services or support you need from crisis services. Some may be very helpful, some not. You may need to gather your own. If you need to -- take a sample of their spit/hair/blood (like the hospital/police might do in a rape kit).
• Go to the hospital (if needed). If it feels OK to identify yourself as a LGBT, demand appropriate services.

Short Term Strategies

• Call victim/witness services.
• Call a lawyer.
• Call The Centre's Prideline BC - a province-wide queer run support line @ 1-800-566-1170.
• If you are in Vancouver, call the Bashline (only available in Vancouver) @ 899-6203.
• Call the Violet Foundation @ 604/688-WEST ext 2277 - press 8 to leave a message.
• Call Youthquest! for support @ 604/944-6293.
• Call supportive friends/family/LGBT support groups.
• Get a group together and decide what needs to be done. Get friends to support you.
• Friends - REMEMBER to ask the people who were bashed, "Do they want to rally support?"
• Find LGBT's who are prepared to speak out.
• Try let go of your own fear and reach out to straight community for support.
• Call supportive local media, write letters in newspapers. Be aware of how they may handle it and how we can then become more of a target by becoming more visible.
• Ask any local group or organization you're involved with for help and support (e.g. women's organizations, churches, Amnesty International).
• Call your local MLA and demand action.

Longer Term Strategies

• Call local mental health to find out what help is available to deal with distress from hate crimes.
• develop a peer support group (find ways to diffuse anger/get support).
• Call the Canadian Bar Association (LGBT Section) to find out your legal rights.
• Call or write to the December 9th Coalition for support: c/o barb findlay @ 604/687-8752.

Proactive Strategies

• Be proactive - be prepared! Organize a committee in your local area to get ready for the bashings that will likely come in the future.
• Call hospitals and other services to ask what procedure is there for gay-bashing or same-sex battering. Ask if they would conduct a rape kit? How would they deal with it?
• Organize a committee and meet with the staff of various emergency services. Ask to review police, hospital and other crisis service guidelines, policies and procedures. Recommend sensitivity training for staff and ask to educate them on the issues.
• Consider using the video kit "Behind the Bruises" (Violet Foundation, St. Paul's Hospital).
• Develop a "how to prevent violence" program and educate your local LGBT community.
• Public education of straight people helps, try to reach out through local media.
• Call the BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) and schools, and ask to have LGBT education programs. Educate school teachers.
• Ask police to have a have mobile unit, including a traveling crown prosecutor.
• Ask to review federal or provincial hate crimes policies BUT realize that when you go to local areas, the policy may be in place, but in practice, is not effective or followed.
• Lobby for our rights to be respected, lobby for changes. Get involved, become an activist. Even small ways can increase your self esteem and help to constructively channel your anger.
• Lobby for a cross province 1 -800 number Bashline Number.

Recommendations The participants in the Oppression, Street and Relationship stream identified three broad foci for the amelioration of violence and bashing against LGBT people or individuals perceived to be LGBT. These three foci included, funding and support, education, and policies/legislation.

We recommend:
Funding and Support
1. That the Ministry of the Attorney General fund a province wide Bashline based on policies and procedures developed for the currently existing Bashline in Vancouver. Further, that the Bashline employ widely diverse members of LGBT communities.

2. That the Ministry of the Attorney General provide funding support to an LGBT organization to conduct education and prevention campaigns with queer communities and service providers about hate crimes, bashing and relationship violence and related issues. Further, that the Ministries, including the Ministry of Education, collaborate with LGBT communities to identify, and develop where necessary, educational videos, pamphlets and other materials and disseminate them province wide in accessible formats and in appropriate locales.

3. That the Ministry of the Attorney General fund a one 1-800 Queer run provincial phone line, such as The Centre's Prideline, which could act as a province-wide ancillary information and support service to the Bashline.

4. That the Ministry of the Attorney General fund existing LGBT services and LGBT-positive services as ancillary measures to the Bashline. Further, that the service delivery be expanded to develop and provide community support services province wide. And further, that education and support be made available for Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays (PFLAG) or similar organizations to end abuse of LGBT children by their families, and more support for parents and LGBT parents.

5. That the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Women's Equality provide funding support for the provision of services for same-sex relationship violence, for both men and women and for both those battered and those who are batterers.

Education
1. That the Provincial Government require, conduct and support, mandatory diversity/sensitivity training courses on LGBT issues, including relationship violence, for all levels of government, police, doctors, judges, crown prosecutors, social services, corporations which are government contracted and/or funded, transition workers, child care workers, courts, youth centres, sexual assault centers, hospitals, and other emergency services. Further, that this training must be conducted by LGBT community members and must counter assumptions about queers.

2. That the Ministry of the Attorney General review existing, and develop where necessary, information on hate crimes, sexual orientation and gender identity issues, discrimination and same-sex relationship violence. Further, that the Ministries explore methods for getting information to individuals, such as the development of a web site and making information available through government mailings, newspaper inserts and at women's centres, hospital emergency rooms, counselling services, youth drop ins, AIDS centres, libraries, churches, unions, and Employee Assistance Programs.

3. That the Ministry of the Attorney General conduct a province wide media campaign with the theme 'Being LGBT is not a crime, bashing is!' using short time slots on TV/radio and a poster campaign. Further, that this campaign be conducted with members of the LGBT communities as role models and encourage the visibility of widely diverse and positive LGBT role models, including high school LGBT speakers.

4. That the Ministries, including the Ministry of Education, educate the public by providing education on homophobia and heterosexism, starting at the school level.

5. That the Ministry of the Attorney General support the formation of liaisons and alliances between province wide hate crimes units, queer communities and their allies.

6. That LGBT communities form coalitions to address violence and bashing and lobby local police, hospitals, schools, and other emergency services for appropriate and needed services.

7. That LGBT communities explore and develop the means to fund and hold "pride" events every six months that are accessible to LGBT's in rural areas.

8. That LGBT communities support the formation of a provincial newspaper, that reflects a province wide perspective, and is available province-wide at no cost.

Policy and Legislation
1. That the Provincial Government form a province-wide LGBT Advisory Committee to review, advise and address issues noted in this report, as well as others arising at provincial levels. Further, that, local civic governments also form local LGBT Advisory Committees to address issues arising at civic levels.

2. That the Ministry of the Attorney General collaborate with LGBT communities to review, including the review of successful violence/hate crimes prevention programs, policies and procedures in other locales, to ensure that local policies and procedures of all emergency crisis services are created or amended so that queer hate crimes can be resolved appropriately.

3. That the Ministry of the Attorney General fund an LGBT organization to create a "Queer Policy Lens." This Lens would be a descriptive analytical tool for policy makers and service providers to use when creating policies or programs to determine if LGBT issues have been fully addressed and could build on tools already created by the BC Ministry of Women's Equality and the Office for Disability Issues.

4. That the Ministry of the Attorney General review and amend existing, and develop where necessary, policies and procedures, in appropriate areas, that address hate crimes and same-sex relationship violence. Further, that disciplinary measures be established when service providers fail to act appropriately and sensitively. And further, all policies, programs, and services must recognize the diversity of LGBT communities.

5. That the Provincial Government recognize that human rights abuses, including hate crimes, can be ameliorated by using proactive language. Further, that the use of proactive, non-discriminatory language be required in all legislation, policies, documents and statements. And further, that existing legislation and policies be reviewed and amended to remedy discriminatory language and practices.

6. That the BC Human Rights Commission enact the following changes to the BC Human Rights Code:

• a) that the intent of all of the proposed changes to the Human Rights Code be enacted, subject to
  • that the open-ended ground formulation mirror that in the charter;
  • that 'gender identity' be added to the ground 'sex' to read 'sex or gender identity'; and,
  • that 'gender identity' be defined in a way that takes account of the self-definitions of the transgendered communities, and protects everyone whose gender identity is or is perceived to be ambiguous, dual, or changing, whether temporarily or permanently.
• b) that there be a provision that a person may complain on a combination of grounds which combination becomes, itself, a new ground
  
• c) that it be possible to sue in tort for discrimination as an alternative to filing a human rights complaint.

8. That the Provincial Government, the Ministries and LGBT communities support and encourage the BC Teachers' Federation resolution and other similar resolutions.

9. That the Provincial Government review the Child and Youth Family Act to ensure there is adequate protection specifically for emotional child abuse against LGBT youth.

10. That the Ministry of the Attorney General provide support, including funding and specialized training, for a mobile hate crimes team. Further, that this team include specially trained crown prosecutors as well as a police unit.

11. That the Attorney General recommend to its appropriate federal counterparts that the following recommendations be also adopted by the RCMP. Education Recommendation, #1, and Policy/Legislation Recommendations, #'s 2 and 4, regarding police education and training, and policies and procedures.

12. That LGBT communities encourage queer and queer friendly people to run for office, and monitor the performance of MLAs to ensure accountability on LGBT issues.

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