Episode 46: Ron Blake and the Barriers LGBTQ Survivors Face
image via www.doncaster.gov.uk
Happy Pride! While we celebrate all the LBGTQ+ community has done simply to survive and be who they are, let's also talk for just a minute (or 60) about the fact that queer folk are not always given the same protections by law enforcement and the criminal justice system when it comes to disclosing abuse and assault. Domestic violence is just as predominant among LGBTQ+ as cisgender-hetero folks, but in survivor Ron Blake's case, the police decided to chalk his assault up to just dudes being dudes... except, it wasn't. Because being a guy doesn't give you the right to be abusive or a rapist or just, in general, an asshole.
In this episode, we also call out two gay heroes of the month: former UCLA surgery resident Melanie Cargle, who blew the whistle on a sexual assault at the hospital before being fired; and drag queen Barbara Seville (aka Richard Stevens) who blew the whistle on a woman running for governor who says drag queens are grooming our kids....except that Seville has the receipts to prove this GOP hypocrite was not-so-long-ago a friend of the queens.
See below for resources for LGBTQ victims and survivors of abuse and assault. You don't have to stay and you don't have to stay silent.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE
Resources for LGBTQ+ Survivors (DomesticShelters.org)
Domestic Violence in the Transgender Community (DomesticShelters.org)