Our Training Services
The Network/La Red provides workshops, trainings, and consultation on lesbian/bisexual/transgender domestic violence, homo/bi/transphobia, and other oppressions to a variety of groups. We have bilingual (English/Spanish) educational/informational pamphlets on LBT abuse, and we maintain a resource library on LGBT domestic violence. Materials are also available on audiotape.

Each training/workshop can use a combination of lecture, interactive role plays, videos, personal accounts of survivors of LBT violence as well as handouts including suggested book list & websites, newsletters, and materials for staff &/or survivors.

Types of Workshops

• Introduction & overview of lesbian/bisexual/transgender domestic violence including the cycle of violence and the power & control wheel as it relates to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender communities. Dispelling myths around lesbian, bisexual and transgender domestic violence.
• The connection between domestic violence and other forms of violence including homo/bi/transphobia/oppression and abuse.
• Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender 101.
• Making programs safer and accessible to lesbian/bisexual /transgender communities including how to screen out abusers, creating an LBT friendly environment for your employees, volunteers, members, and survivors.
• Technical assistance around policies & procedures.
  Also available:

• Oppression-specific workshops including anti-racism, understanding the role of privilege in oppression, and making connections between abuse and oppression.
  

LGBT Community Group Workshop

Strengthening Our Communities and Ourselves: Working to end abuse in relationships and sexual assault against our communities.

This workshop will present an overview of what is a healthy relationship vs. power, control, and abuse in intimate or dating relationship in part one. Combined with the belief that "among our own" or within our communities we are safest and the minimizing of abuse/assault, because it may confirm negative stereotypes of communities often makes it difficult for community acknowledgement and accountability of partner abuse. This leaves those who are abused with few options for safety and community support. This workshop will address the fears of disclosing partner to friends or family, ways for community members to support survivors and speak out against partner abuse through a combination of presentation and discussion.

Description: In a healthy relationship choices, decisions, and power between partners are shared, but what happens when one person in the relationship tries to control the other? Does it mean they really care if they are checking in with you or are they checking up on you? Is there pressure not to transition or to come out to friends/family from the person you are dating or partnered with? Are you having fun and feeling safe in your relationships?

• Topics to be covered:
  Overview partner abuse and dynamics of abuse
  Specific issues including: tactics of control used by abusers against LGBTIQ and use of society's homo/bi/transphobia.
  Overcoming barriers in recognizing abuse/assault
  Dispelling the myths/stereotypes around abuse/assault
  Ways to support survivors.
  How homo/bi/trans-phobia affects community awareness and actions.
  Connecting abuse and oppression, including racism, ableism, classism, homo/bi/trans-phobia.

Format: 1 ½ to 2-hour workshop either overhead slides or LCD power point presentation with 2-4 handouts. TV/VCR needed.
Cost: email info@tnlr.org.

Social Service Providers Workshops

Domestic Violence/Partner abuse in LGBTIQ Communities

One in four Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer people will be abused by a partner in their lifetime, yet domestic violence continues to be closeted in LGBTIQ communities. In spite of efforts made by pockets of lesbians and bisexual women in the mainstream movements to break the silence surrounding domestic violence in lesbian communities, the mainstream movement has made only minimal efforts to address the needs of abused gay men, bisexual men, transgender/transexual folks and intersex folks. The fear of confirming negative stereotypes of LGBTIQ communities often contributes to the communities minimizing of partner abuse. Combined with the belief that "among our own" or within the LGBTIQ communities we are safest, often make it difficult for community acknowledgement of domestic violence as well as community accountability. This leaves those who are abused by a partner with few options for safety and community support. Some survivors may try to seek support from mainstream service providers, police, or courts and are sometimes met with barriers of heterosexism, lack of understanding, the abusive partner receiving victim services, and/or lack of resources for safety, shelter, and support.

This workshop will present an overview and strategies for service providers to understand, acknowledge and screen for LGBTIQ partner abuse as well as ways to support survivors and address homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and oppression through a combination of presentation and discussion.

• Issues and topics to be covered:
  The culture of LGBTIQ communities
  Overview domestic violence, dynamics of abuse in LGBTIQ communities.
  Barriers to service and support
  Similarities and difference to heterosexual domestic violence
  Introduction to the screening process for who the survivor and who the abuser is.
  LGBTIQ community barriers in recognizing abuse/assault
  How homo/bi/trans-phobia affects community awareness and actions.
  Connecting domestic violence and oppression, including racism, ableism, classism, and homo/bi/trans-phobia.

Format: 2-3 hour workshop with TV/VCR and either overhead slides or LCD power point presentation with 2-4 handouts.
Cost: $200 - $300 plus travel and accommodation if needed

Day Long Training - 2 Part workshop
Partner abuse in LGBTIQ Communities
Part 1- Differences and similarities to heterosexual domestic violence.

One in four Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer people will be abused by a partner in their lifetime, yet domestic violence continues to be closeted in LGBTIQ communities. In spite of efforts made by pockets of lesbians and bisexual women in the mainstream movements to break the silence surrounding domestic violence in lesbian communities, the mainstream movement has made only minimal efforts to address the needs of abused gay men, bisexual men, transgender/transexual folks and intersex folks. The fear of confirming negative stereotypes of LGBTIQ communities often contributes to the communities minimizing of partner abuse. Combined with the belief that "among our own" or within the LGBTIQ communities we are safest, often make it difficult for community acknowledgement of domestic violence as well as community accountability. This leaves those who are abused by a partner with few options for safety and community support. Some survivors may try to seek support from mainstream service providers, police, or courts and are sometimes met with barriers of heterosexism, lack of understanding, the abusive partner receiving victim services, and/or lack of resources for safety, shelter, and support.

This workshop will present an overview and strategies for service providers to understand, acknowledge for LGBTIQ partner abuse as well as ways to support survivors and address homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and oppression through a combination of presentation and discussion.

• Issues and topics to be covered:
  The culture of LGBTIQ communities
  Overview domestic violence, dynamics of abuse in LGBTIQ communities.
  Barriers to service and support
  Similarities and difference to heterosexual domestic violence
  LGBTIQ community barriers in recognizing abuse/assault
  How homo/bi/trans-phobia affects community awareness and actions.
  Connecting domestic violence and oppression, including racism, ableism, classism, and homo/bi/trans-phobia.
  
  Part 2 - Screening

Abuse occurs in GLBT relationships at the same rate as straight relationships. Would you know which partner was the perpetrator and which one was the victim? The Intimate Partner Screening Tool was created by the GLBT Domestic Violence Coalition of Boston, MA to assist providers in determining who is the perpetrator and who is the victim in GLBT relationships where abuse exists.

• Why advocates/organizations should screen
  How to screen
  ·Demonstration of the tool with audience with facilitated role-play.
  

Workshop participants should have an understanding of GLBT partner abuse before attending this workshop.

Format: 3 hours total (1 ½ each part) workshop with either overhead slides or LCD power point presentation with 2-4 handouts. Cost: $700 - $1000 plus travel and accommodation if needed, includes 25 screening tools and additional tools are $3 each

Sexual Assault and LGBT Community
Shifting the paradigm: Creating survivor-centered sexual assault services for GLBTIQ communities

Creating accessible services for GLBTIQ survivors of sexual assault requires an understanding of the barriers that prevent effective service delivery. Examining the various forms of personal and institutional oppression faced by GLBTIQ people forms a foundation for a three-prong model of service delivery that will enable participants to ensure the most effective possible response.

This program has been developed to assist advocates, police, SANE nurses, and other service delivery professionals in understanding the major obstacles to providing survivor-centered services for individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning. A history of non-inclusion as well as pathologizing of gay, lesbian and bisexual orientation, and the gender identity of intersex and gender identity and transition process for transgender has resulted in an ongoing mistrust of service professionals, often perceived to be unfriendly or that services are not available to GLBTIQ survivors. Through an examination of what we know from research, anecdotal stories from survivors, and media about the incidence, prevalence, and effects of sexual violence on GLBTIQ communities, we will introduce a three-prong model of effective service delivery for this population.

To provide participants with a brief overview of the major issues and obstacles faced by GLBTIQ survivors of sexual violence.
To familiarize participants with a three prong model of improving service delivery to GLBTIQ survivors, including an examination of
Hiring practices, staff diversity issues and building community partnerships with GLBTIQ community organizations (enhancing visibility), Inclusiveness in publications and resource/outreach materials (creating an environment of respect and awareness about sexual violence for GLBTIQ communities), Training and skill development for service providers (using the provider interaction to empower).

Format: 1 ½ to 3-hour workshop with TV/VCR and either overhead slides or LCD power point presentation with 2-8 handouts.
Cost: $150-300 plus travel and accommodation if needed

Transgender specific
Working with Transgender and Intersex survivors of partner abuse and sexual assault

With work being done raise awareness about partner abuse and sexual assault in transgender and intersex communities there has been an increase in the number of transgender and intersex survivors reaching out for help and accessing services. How do we support a survivor that discloses that are transgender or intersex? How is transphobia addressed with staff, volunteers, advocates, and shelter guests or in support group? Who are legally "welcome" and "not welcome" in a woman only space? What resources are available and what barriers are there for transgender and intersex communities when accessing outside support, such as court, work, and education.

This workshop will focus on the barriers mainstream programs may have to serving transgender and intersex victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Providing cultural information, techniques, time for problem solving, and ways to open up programs, at whatever capacity, to be able to serve transgender and intersex folks. A combination of presentation, dialog, and video clips will be used.

• History, culture, and community of transgender and intersex folks
  Difference between sexual orientation and gender identity
  Similarities and differences in partner abuse for transgender/intersex survivors vs. straight women
  How sexual assault and violence are used to oppress transgender and intersex community.
  Addressing the legalities of who can access women only services
  Integrating information on transgender and intersex communities in to your own staff/volunteer trainings

Format: 1 ½ to 3-hour workshop with TV/VCR and either overhead slides or LCD power point presentation with 2-4 handouts.
Cost: $150 - $300 ($100 an hour) plus travel and accommodation if needed

S/M Specifice

S/M is Not Abuse: Understanding consensual S/M and how it differs from abuse.
This workshop was developed by The Network/La Red and The New England Leather Alliance.

S/M refers to a broad group of behaviors that involve the consensual giving and receiving of intense erotic sensation. "Researchers estimate that 5-10 percent of the U.S. population engages in sadomasochism [S/M] for sexual pleasure on at least an occasional basis, with most incidents being either mild or stage activities involving no real pain or violence." Kinsey Institute New Report on Sex, 1990. Consensual S/M is a viable and empowering experience for many when practiced between consenting adults, but some abusers can use S/M as a tool of abuse.
This workshop will provide:

• Language, definitions, and culture of S/M communities
  Difference between consensual S/M and abuse.
  How to effectively screen for the difference between S/M and abuse.
  How to speak comfortably to clients who practice S/M.
  

Format: 1 ½ to 3-hour workshop either overhead slides or LCD power point presentation with 2-4 handouts. Cost: $150 - $300 plus travel and accommodation if needed.

Cost of Trainings & Workshops
All workshops are on a sliding scale basis. Workshops are anywhere from 1½ hours to 8 hours and may include ongoing technical assistance. Each workshop will be tailored to your group's needs, taking into account who the training is for, previous training, specific issues to be addressed, and types of communities you work with.

How to set up a training/workshop
Call The Network/La Red office line at 617-695-0877 v/tty
Monday-Friday 9-5p or email info@tnlr.org.