An Exploration of the Influences of Race, Class and Gender Identity on the Help-Seeking Behavior of LGBTQ Survivors of Violence

Abstract

AN EXPLORATION OF THE INFLUENCES OF RACE, CLASS AND GENDER IDENTITY ON THE HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF LGBTQ SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE By Xavier Luciano Guadalupe-Diaz A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Director: Sarah Jane Brubaker, PhD. Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Without a doubt, violence continues to be a brutal reality in our society. It reaches and affects millions across our nation and around the world. For centuries, scholars, researchers and academics have studied and analyzed the existence of violence in many capacities. While violence affects every individual, group, and community the dynamics and the realties that are carried out vary tremendously across race, income levels, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and national origin to name a few. The existence, impact and repercussions of violence in different communities carry varying meanings, perceptions and significance. This paper explores the influences of race, class, and gender identity on the help-seeking behavior of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) survivors of hate motivated and intimate partner violence utilizing data collected by the Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) Community Violence Survey. Utilizing a target sampling method, nearly 1,000