The National LGBTQ INstitute on intimate partner violence’s
LGBTQ+ Survivor Speakers Bureau
We know that all too often, LGBTQ+ survivors are left out of conversations about domestic violence. We know how critical it is to promote visibility and center the voices of LGBTQ+ survivors in order to create meaningful change in the domestic violence movement. That is why National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence operates a LGBTQ+ Survivor Speakers Bureau for requests for speaking engagements, interviews, written narratives, media engagement, special events, and listening session participants. We use this LGBTQ+ Survivor Speakers Bureau network as a way to connect interested parties with one another and provide support and guidance throughout the process.
If you are interested in finding an LGBTQ+ survivor speaker, please email us at [email protected].
Check out this guide on Power Sharing and Collaboration with Survivors. The relationship between journalists and survivors has elements of power and control. Journalists hold considerable power when deciding which stories to tell, and how. Journalists can acknowledge these imbalances and strive to avoid replicating the dynamics that have already harmed their sources.
Learn about trauma informed interviewing practices
We all deserve to feel safe, respected, and heard. Survivors of violence should not have to fear being traumatized again when they agree to speaking engagements and interviews. Check out this guide on Trauma-Informed Interviewing Practices.
Check out the Journalist Playbook’s website on helping journalists cover domestic violence with depth and care. From survivor perspectives to real-world examples of good journalism, find the tools and sources you need to report on domestic violence.
consider what compensation you can provide
We strongly believe that LGBTQ+ survivors deserve to be paid fairly for their labor. Sharing your story and experiences to promote change takes bravery, fortitude, skill, and expertise. LGBTQ+ survivors are already disproportionately financially impacted. In a report done by Free From, survivors reported an average of $10,120 in abuse-related costs, with queer and trans survivors reporting needing support with essential costs at a rate 1.6x higher than cisgender and heterosexual counterparts.