Healing and Seeking Help After A Hate Crime for the LGBTQI Community. Information From An LGBTQI Therapist In Long Beach

Shortly after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, government officials struggled over what to call the tragedy. Was it a terrorist attack? Was it a hate crime? Was it both? Considering that the large majority of those who were killed were from the LGBTQI community, it seemed more like a hate crime than anything else. The reality that many of these politicians refused to acknowledge is that hate crimes are a huge problem for LGBTQI people. In a New York Times article (June 16, 2016), FBI research revealed that LGBTQI people were twice as likely to be targeted for hate crimes than African-American people. Although those numbers vary each year, it remains that our community is one of the most targeted groups in all of America. With so many of us and our peers becoming victims, it can be frightening. But some of the most important work we’ll ever do comes after an attack happens.

Seek Medical Attention

Your health comes first and foremost. If you’ve been hurt, get to a hospital to be seen. You need to ensure that your injuries are cared for so you aren’t left with permanent damage or nagging injuries. Plus, you’ll have a record of your treatment.

Go To The Police

This is a necessary but scary step. Many LGBTQI people fear that the police won’t take them seriously; that they’ll even mock them. But we are citizens just like anyone else. The police have a responsibility to protect us. You have to file a police report and give a description so that your attacker doesn’t strike again. If you stay silent, the attacker could hurt someone else. And that person may not have the ability to speak up. Also, be sure to get a copy of the police report to make sure everything is filed accordingly. If this is something that you fear, talk to a friend or talk to a therapist about the pros and cons of reporting.

Don’t Blame Yourself

As a victim, you might wonder what you did to deserve the attack. What if you hadn’t stayed out late that night? What if you’d gone home a different way? None of that matters. You are not to blame for this attack. If someone lashed out at you just because they don’t understand you, it’s their problem. You have every right to be yourself and express yourself as you see fit.

Talk To Someone

Keeping your feelings to yourself can be stressful-especially if your feelings include fear and negativity. You could end up a permanent victim of internalized homophobia if you don’t speak up. Confide in friends or a licensed therapeutic professional to process the event. The last thing you want to do is keep this bottled up inside. You need to get it out so that you can move forward. If you did file a police report, you should qualify for free therapy paid for by the victims of crime division of the district attorney’s office (in California, you can call 800-380-3811, or you can call my office and we can help you fill out the forms on your first visit).

Connect With The Local LGBTQI Community

Find a local organization that can help you. There is nothing like getting support from people who can truly relate. Unlike other minorities, usually the LGBTQI community doesn’t have automatic understanding from family. If you are experiencing a hate crime based on race, most likely there are people within your family who understand on a personal level. In the LGBTQI community, that is often not the case. Additionally, community organizations have other resources you can use to seek justice and continue protecting yourself.
Hate crimes are a scary experience. But our community will always be resilient. Try calling “The Trevor Project” at 866-488-7386. If you go to their website (www.thetrevorproject.org) you can even chat/text with them if you are afraid of calling. You can always call my office as well. I can help direct you in finding local support and if you are a California resident, you can set up therapy sessions with me over the phone or in person.