Self-Defense Experts Suggt The 5 Strategi for Avoidg or Survivg a Gay Bashg | Hor, the Queer Social Network

Contents:

• SELF-DEFENSE EXPERTS SUGGT THE 5 STRATEGI FOR AVOIDG OR SURVIVG A GAY BASHG
• GAY BASHG AT A SPORTS BAR: WHAT DO YOU DO?
• GAY BULLYG, GAY BULLI AND DEALG WH GAY BASHG
• WORRIED ABOUT GAY-BASHG
• TEEN BULLIED FOR BEG GAY: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
• GAY BASHG
• SON BERATED BY PARENTS FOR BEG GAY: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

SELF-DEFENSE EXPERTS SUGGT THE 5 STRATEGI FOR AVOIDG OR SURVIVG A GAY BASHG

The prospect of beg gay bashed is que sry, but Carolyne Haycraft, the executive director of EMERJ-SafeNow, an anizatn that teach cultural-specific strategi for preventg vlence, says there’s no need to nstantly fear beg attacked and has suggtns for effective gay bashg fense that uld help you learn how to survive a gay bashg.

Together wh Aman Weaver, a lbian woman who works as an EMERJ-SafeNow facilator and curriculum veloper, the two have tght gay bashg fense class to LGBTQ people. So we asked them for advice on how to survive a gay bashg (or avoid one altogether).

GAY BASHG AT A SPORTS BAR: WHAT DO YOU DO?

Also, if your statn is a nservative area (filled wh possible queer-phob), a place of drkg or an area known for gay bashgs, prepare to be extra vigilant, keepg your ey and ears open. Even if you’re 18 or younger, Haycraft remds , you n duck to a rtrant or bar as a gay bashg fense.

While fear and tun n be helpful a dangero suatns, Haycraft says, stayg clear-head n also help when figurg out how to survive a gay bashg.

GAY BULLYG, GAY BULLI AND DEALG WH GAY BASHG

She says that we live a cultural climate where more people feel ’s OK to make racist, sexist and homophobic statements. Weaver strs g posive affirmatns to help keep yourself lm, nfint and empowered durg a gay bashg fense. When teachg people how to survive a gay bashg, she remends distance as a good start for a gay bashg fense.

WORRIED ABOUT GAY-BASHG

”) If your attacker is homophobic, turng the tabl on them this way n create a small amount of time for you to pe. As we’ve mentned, fightg should be a last rort when figurg out how to survive a gay bashg. Sce alhol and other dgs are often part of gay and public scen — and n crease aggrsn or crease awarens — Weaver suggts beg extra mdful and thkg ahead if you’re head to a place where dgs will be ed.

TEEN BULLIED FOR BEG GAY: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

March 24, 2009— -- The gay marriage iative and Sean Penn's Osr-wng performance "Milk" have stirred up emotns on both sis of the gay rights bate … but 's one thg to al wh an issue at a distance and que another when you're forced to choose sis, or do nothg.

GAY BASHG

Two addnal actors, Traci Hovel and Brad Lee Wd, played a heterosexual uple at the oppose end of the sexual orientatn hate crim nsistently on the rise the past , we wonred whether or not bar patrons would e to the fense of a gay uple beg verbally tt Amerins' creasg open-mdns, we staged a verbal gay-bashg scenar at a lol sports bar Ln, N.

Two addnal actors, Traci Hovel and Brad Lee Wd, played a heterosexual uple at the oppose end of the our dns, we met many homosexual upl who had experienced prejudice and anti-gay rhetoric.

SON BERATED BY PARENTS FOR BEG GAY: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

They were all too faiar wh the kds of language our actor Augt an age when many still don't regnize rogatory language toward homosexual upl as a hate crime, we wonred if anyone would even regnize the attacks, let alone nont the Friday at lunchtime, a group of six men entered the bar for a quick break before headg back to work. Amand and Benevento entered, takg seats nearby, Augt's meanor changed markedly and he lnched to a steady stream of anti-gay Gay Couple Should Leave, or Else"Is this mon for the area?