Queer:  An inclusive term used by some in the community to encompass bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, intersexed or questioning individuals.  The appropriation of a formerly pejorative term as a self-identifier reflects a political defiance to prejudice.  Within the LGBT community, "queer" is a contested term: some protest its inclusive claims, some its single-issue political activism.

Questioning: An individual who is not sure about their sexual orientation.

Transgender:  A person whose gender identity and sex differ from each other and whose life experiences cross the gender identification they were born with.  Transgender individuals may or may not seek hormonal therapy, gender reassignment surgery, or other appearance altering methods to align their bodies to the gender with which they identify.

Transsexual:  An individual who presents and lives as the gender "opposite" to a genetic gender at birth.  Some transsexuals may choose hormone therapy and/or sexual reassignment surgery while others do not.

Transvestite: People who enjoy wearing the clothes of, and appearing as the other gender (also known as cross dressers).

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Some battered women of this community particularly describe

• Abuser uses looks, gestures and actions to reinforce homophobic and sexist controls that her victim also encounters in homophobic situations.
• Name-calling and making victim feel bad about herself by reinforcing internalized homophobia.
• Using isolation and fostering greater dependence on the abusive partner: many API lesbian, bisexual and transgender women are isolated by and from their families and/or communities because of their sexual orientation.
• Minimizing the abuse.
• Accusing victim of mutual abuse.
• Threatening to “out” a woman to her family, colleagues, and friends.
• Threats around losing custody of her [victim’s] children by “outing” her
• Refusing custody or adoptive parental rights for their children when the abuser is the birth-mother
• Sexual violence

Barriers Asian and Pacific Islander LBT women face:

• The myth that LBT battering is "mutual" and/or "consensual" prevails, minimizing the credibility of, and harm done to, victims.
• Utilizing existing services such as shelters or the legal system is tantamount to "coming out" which can place victim in greater danger.
• Given that this community is a small one, survivors fear that people will find out about their abusive relationship. 
• The usual burdens of shame that Asian and Pacific Islander women endure can increase because of their LBT identity.
• Greater difficulty finding appropriate support than their heterosexual counter parts have.
• Additional burdens of dealing with homophobia from their own families and communities, and from society as a whole.

FACTS & STATISTICS

• 5,046 cases of domestic violence in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community were documented in 2001. This represents a 25% increase from 2000 (4,048 cases).
• Of the 5,046 cases documented, 49% identified as male, and 43% identified as female. Less than 4% of victims identified as transgender.
• Of the victims in the report, 26% identified as white; 15% as Latino; 10% as African American; 3% as Asian/Pacific Islander; and less than 1% as West Asian (middle eastern), multiracial, and/or Native American; the remainder did not identify their race.
• Approximately 25-30% of LBT women experience violence at some point in their lives.
• Specific data for Asian and Pacific Islander LBT women is not available.

National Coalition of Anti Violence Programs (2002). Lesbian, Bay, Bisexual and Transgender Domestic Violence Report in 2001. New York: Author.

TRANSLATED MATERIALS FOR LBT WOMEN

MULTI-MEDIA RESOURCES

Bolo Bolo
Focusing on the South Asian community of Toronto, this video is a constructive tool for facilitators, educators, community workers and anyone interested in organizing around issues of health, sexuality and cultural identity.  By Gita Saxena and Ian Rashid, in conjunction with Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention and Toronto Living with AIDS. www.asianamericanmedia.org, distribution@asianamericanmedia.org

For Straights Only
Told from the perspective of a straight sister about her gay brother, this film explores the social and familial prejudices faced by gay and lesbian South Asians.
By Vismita Gupta-Smith.  Futprintz@aol.com

Rewriting the Script: A love letter to our families
This documentary explores the loves, lives and sexualities of Queer South Asians and their families of origin.  Parents, siblings and family members talk about the struggle to re-write and redefine their relationship.  By South Asian Video Project Collective. For rentals: Vtape www.vtape.org.  Home Sales: Toronto Women's Bookstore www.womensbookstore.com.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Family Violence Prevention Fund. (1998). Raising Our Voices: Queer Asian Women's Response to Relationship Violence.  (Joint project with Asian Women's Shelter.) San Francisco, CA: Author. www.store.yahoo.com/fvpfstore/immigrantwomen.html

Giorgio, G . (2002). Speaking Silence: Definitional Dialogues in Abusive Lesbian Relationships, Violence Against Women, 8(10) (pp.1233-1259).  Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Hudgins, R.L. (1990). Professional Considerations for Those Working with Women of Color Survivors of Lesbian Battering. In P. Elliot (Ed.), Confronting Lesbian Battering: A Manual for the Battered Women's Movement (pp. 158-160). St. Paul, MN: Lesbian Battering Intervention Project.

Kanuha, V. (1990). Compounding the Triple Jeopardy: Battering in Lesbian of Color Relationships. In L.S. Brown and M. Root (Eds.), Diversity and Complexity in Feminist Therapy (pp.169-184). New York: Harrington/Haworth.

Lobel, K.  (1986) Naming the Violence: Speaking Out about Lesbian Battering.  (Sponsored by the Lesbian Task Force of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.)  Seattle, WA: Seal Press.

McClure, H., Nugent, C. & Solloway, L. (2000).  Preparing Sexual Orientation Based Asylum Claims: A Handbook for Advocates and Asylum Seekers.  Chicago: Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights.  Available from: Heartland Alliance, Chicago, 312-660-1370.

National Coalition of Anti Violence Programs (2002). Lesbian, Bay, Bisexual and Transgender Domestic Violence Report in 2001. New York: Author.  Available from www.avp.org/publications/reports/2001ncavpdvrpt.pdf

Waldron, C. (1996). Lesbians of Color in the Domestic Violence Movement. In C. Renzetti and C. H. Miley (Eds.), Violence in Gay and Lesbian Domestic Partnerships (pp.43-52). New York: Harrington/Haworth.

West, C. (1998). Lifting the "Political Gag Order": Breaking the Silence Around Partner Violence in Ethnic Minority Families. In J. L. Jasinski and L. M. Williams (Eds.), Partner Violence: A Comprehensive Review of 20 Years of Research.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

RESOURCES: PROGRAMS, ORGANIZATIONS, LISTS

Astraea Foundation
To advance the economic, political, educational and cultural well being of lesbians of color, Astraea works to educate individuals about money, power and giving; to expand the community of donors supporting lesbian issues; and to raise and distribute funds to organizations, individuals and projects. www.astrea.org, 212.529.8021

Audre Lourde Project
A center for lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirited and transgender people of color in New York City that seeks social and economic justice for all peoples through community organizing, coalition building and advocacy. www.alp.org, 718.596.0342

Community United Against Violence (CUAV)
A 20-year old multicultural organization in San Francisco working to end violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) communities. www.cuav.org, 415.777.5500

Homan
Promotes the creation of a safe community where Iranian lesbians, gays and bisexuals can come together in celebration of both their cultural and sexual identities without hatred or prejudice. homan-la@geocites.com, 323.937.4397

Khuli Zaban
Khuli Zaban, Chicago, seeks to provide social support, build a rich and sensitive community and to help end oppression and isolation in the lives of lesbian, bisexual and transgender South and West Asian women. khulizaban@hotmail.com, 312.409.2753

Lesbian and Gay Immigration Task Force
Dedicated to ending immigration discrimination against lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender individuals. www.lgirtf.org 212.714.2904

National Coalition of Anti Violence Programs
A network of 27 community based organizations that document and advocate for victims anti- LGBT, anti- HIV/AIDS violence/harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, police misconduct and other forms of victimization. www.avp.org, 212.714.1184

Queer Asian Women's Services
A program of Asian Women's Shelter, San Francisco, QAWS specializes in working with lesbian and bisexual victims of domestic violence. www.sfaws.org 415.751.7110 (office), 877.751.0880 (crisis line)

South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association
A social and political group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who trace their descent from countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Tibet and people of South Asian descent from countries such as Guyana, Trinidad and Kenya. www.salganyc.org 212.358.5132

SWANABAQ: South West Asian and North African Bay Area Queers
A group and discussion forum for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersexed (LBTI) Afghans, Arabs, Armenians, Assyrians, Berbers, Cypriots, Kurds, Persian and Turks living in Northern California. The purpose of this list is to create dialogue around queer issues, social events and community support. SWANABAQ-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Trikone
Offers a supportive, empowering, and non-judgmental environment where queer South Asians can meet, make connections, and proudly promote awareness and acceptance of their sexuality in society. Trikone actively works against all forms of oppression based on race, gender, class, and other identities. www.trikone.org