What to do if you are the victim
Almost any reaction to being targeted for acts
of bias should be considered normal. Emotional reactions can
include denial or trying to forget that the crime ever
happened.
Anger, fear, depression, and anxiety are also
common. Survivors of violent crime may also experience
physical problems that seem unrelated to an assault. Such
symptoms can include headaches, stomachaches, insomnia, change
in appetite, irritability, withdrawal, and sexual difficulties.
The most important thing to do is to find
someone safe you can tell about the incident. Talking about
the experience to supportive friends, family members, and loved
ones can help you to begin the process of understanding what
happened to you and recovering from the assault.
Remember that being a hate-crime victim is
NEVER your fault. Members of the LGBTIQ community have every
right to be who they are, wherever they want, whenever they
want.
Other important things to do if you are the
victim of a hate crime include:
-
Get medical attention. If you were attacked,
go to a health care provider or hospital emergency room, even
if you do not believe that you have been seriously injured. Do
this as soon after an assault as possible. If you were raped
as part of the crime (and rape is a common form of hate
crime), make sure that emergency room staff know this and
collect the appropriate evidence.
-
Document the incident. Write down everything that was said
and done by the perpetrators, including the time and location
of the incident. If you are harassed over the telephone or
e-mail, keep a log of harassing phone calls and copies of voice
mail messages or e-mails, if available.
-
Document physical
injuries with photographs. (Remember that bruises often will
not appear until several days after an attack.) Keep any notes
or other written harassment.
Top of Page |
Q & A
Difference between hate violence
and other forms of violence
What to do if you are the victim
Reporting harassment and violence at school to
school staff
Reporting crimes to the police
Reporting to your local
anti-violence program
Safety tips
Related Pages
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