Transgender people and domestic violence
Another Closet primarily explores domestic violence issues for people in same-sex relationships. However, we recognise that transgender people may also experience domestic violence in same or opposite sex relationships and that their needs and experiences may be different from heterosexual and gay and lesbian people.
Some of the issues specific to trans people:
- Access to services – services may not be safe or adequately resourced to support the needs of transgender clients.
- Discrimination - trans people may face discrimination from workers, other survivors of DV or services that do not understand transgender clients needs.
- Physical privacy and safety - trans clients may need extra privacy and safety in allocation of accommodation, bathrooms, sleeping arrangements, etc.
- Forced “outing” - transgender people might not want to disclose their gender condition or to draw attention to themselves by reporting harassment or violence.
- Transgender people are diverse – not all trans people will want to be treated the same. Some may want to have their trans status recognised by service staff but they may not want other clients to know.
The Transgender Anti-Violence Project
The mission of the Transgender Anti-Violence Project is to provide education, support, referrals and advocacy in relation to violence and oppression based on gender identity.
This project addresses all forms of violence that impact on the transgender and gender-questioning community, including (but not limited to) domestic violence, sexual violence, anti- transgender harassment and hate crimes.
The Transgender Anti-Violence Project is located within the Gender Centre which is situated at 7 Bent Street Petersham. We can provide telephone support and outreach services to people living outside Sydney.
For people living outside the state of NSW please submit a report, which will enable the TAVP to capture this vital statistical information on the prevalence of violence directed towards the transgender and gender questioning communities of Australia.
If you are being harassed, assaulted or attacked, get support and tell the police.
Go to your local police station or any police station you know and, if possible, take a support worker from the TAVP with you. If you are alone, you can ask the police to contact the TAVP support staff on (02) 9569-2366 or, if you are outside Sydney, phone 1800-069-115 during business hours.
Your support worker will initially ascertain the nature and level of support that you require to help you to a successful outcome.
For more information, good practice advice and support:
7 Bent St,
Petersham, NSW 2049.
Call (02) 9569 2366 or 1800 069 115 during business hours 9:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday
http://www.gendercentre.org.au/
Other websites with information for trans people experiencing DV:
The Survivor Project is a US based non profit dedicated to addressing the needs of transgender and intersex survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
http://www.survivorproject.org/
If you are transgender and you need legal advice in NSW, the Safe Relationships Project may be able to help.
http://www.iclc.org.au/srp/srp_ttp.html
The links section of our site may have some useful information
http://www.anothercloset.com.au/links-resources/
And if you find a website that has useful information for transgender people, please let us know!