RFSL Support Service is here for you who identify as an LGBTQ person and have been subject to violation, threat or violence.
In our work we come in contact with different types of violence and exposedness. It’s not always the case that what you’ve been subject to corresponds to your image of what violence looks like.
The one that subjects you to violence can be a partner, family, relations, temporary aquantancies, colleagues at work, schoolmates, neighbors, total strangers and sometimes organized groups. It can be about both psychological, physical, sexual, economic or material violence.
The one who hurts someone can have different motives. It can be about exercising power and control over another human being or a hatred towards LGBTQ people. Sometimes it’s about honor norms and multiple people can be involved.
Below is a description of what it can be about.
If someone tries to violate you because of how they perceive your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression it is a hate crime.
Sometimes honor norms can be a motive for subjecting an LGBTQ person to a crime. As with hate crime, it can be about anything from demeaning words to risk of deadly violence. When violence is honor related many people are involved in subjecting someone to control and/or violence. Honor can be described as something that must be defended in order for a family to maintain their good reputation.
To be subject to violence from your partner is about the partner trying to limit your living space through power and control. Partner violence happens repeatedly and systematically. It can be perceived as a constant stress with consequences such as lowered self esteem, fear, anger and gradually forces you to stretch/move you boundaries. You can read more here (in Swedish).
Sexual violence is about violating someone’s sexual boundaries. It can happen within a relationship or in a casual sexual encounter. Sexual violence can also be used against LGBTQ people as humiliation or punishment.