Download Polare 96 - The Gender Centre Inc.

The Transgender Anti-Violence Project ColumnHello! Let me introduce myself. My nameis Tahlia and I am the new TransgenderAnti-Violence Project (TAVP) Officerat the Gender Centre. I’ve been volunteering atthe Centre since the beginning of the year, soyou may have already seen me’round the traps, but I have nowbecome a more permanentfeature of this little terrace bythe park. Some of you mayknow about the TAVP and someof you may not. Before I tell youabout the project and how it canhelp you, let’s start from scratch.What is violence? And howdo I know if what I’veexperienced even counts asviolence?There are many different formsof violence and just as manymyths about what ‘counts’ andwhat doesn’t. Violence maytake the form of physical assault,emotional abuse, sexual assault or domestic andfamily violence. And what if you don’t have cutsor bruises?Emotional or psychological abuse, verbal abuse,threats, harassment, stalking, online abuse orcyber bullying, bullying at school or work,destroying your belongings or even harmingyour pets… that still counts as violence.If you are in a relationship with someone whois restricting your access to money, sociallyisolating you or forbidding you to see yourfamily and friends… that counts too. There areother forms of violence that transgender peoplein particular may experience.This includes having your testosterone, HRT orHIV medication taken away from you and orhaving your trans* identity or HIV status outed– or threatened to be outed – against your will.Nothing is too small to report.Hopefully, you will never experience violenceor harassment related to your gender identity(or at all of course). Tragically, however,transgender people and people of diversegender identities are at risk of experiencingviolence every day. And many do.Tahliaby TahliaIf you (or someone you know) have experiencedany form of violence, harassment or hate crimebased on your gender expression, you don’tneed to remain silent. Speaking up is a start toregaining your sense of self and empowerment.Demanding a life free ofviolence, oppression anddiscrimination on the groundsof your sexual or genderdiversity is a sign of strengthand bravery.That’s where I come in...As the Transgender Anti-Violence Project Officer, I amhere to provide you withsupport in a number of areas.The first and most important areais reporting the violence. If youprefer, you can report to theTAVP without reporting to thepolice. What you tell me orother Gender Centre staff willremain confidential and yourname and other identifying information will notbe released without your permission.When you report to the TAVP, in person, byphone, or online, you can provide me with asmuch information about yourself and theincident as you feel comfortable with.The more information you provide, the moresupport I will be able to offer you and the moreI can try to stop the violence happening tosomeone else.I will support you throughout the process ofreporting to the TAVP and/or the police, seekinglegal advice, accompanying you to court,helping you to get medical assistance, providingeducation, organising counselling, makingreferrals to other services, offering follow-upsupport and advocating on your behalf aboutsituations specifically related to violence,transphobia and hate crimes.Any or all of these avenues might feel right foryou. After reporting an incident to the TAVP,you will not be forced to take any further action.Your experiences mean your decisions.Okay, so maybe I do want to do something aboutit. Now what?