Hate in Cornwall pt.3 – Resources

You can read Part 2 Here and Part 1 Here – coming soon Part 4 here

Sam, a 26-year-old trans man, and his family have faced repeated harassment for displaying a Pride flag outside their home. During the Covid pandemic, they decorated their house with Pride decorations for Pride Month, which led to them being targeted multiple times. Initially, the attacks were limited to their flag being torn down, but the vandalism escalated significantly this summer. Their story was shared in the first 2 parts. This section is devoted to resources.

Resources

Build a Support Network

• Connect with Allies: Surround yourself with supportive friends, family, and allies who understand and respect your identity. This can provide emotional support and a sense of security.
• Join LGBTQ+ Organizations: Engage with local LGBTQ+ groups, community centers, or online forums. These organizations often offer resources, legal advice, and peer support. In Cornwall: Diversity Cornwall https://www.diversitycornwall.ca/, email: [email protected] phone: 1 877-377-7775

2. Know Your Rights

• Understand Legal Protections: Familiarize yourself with local, provincial, or national laws that protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination and hate crimes. Knowing your rights can empower you to take action if you face harassment.
• Report Bullying: If you experience bullying at school, work, or in public, report it to the appropriate authorities. Many places have policies and procedures in place to address such issues.

3. Practice Personal Safety

• Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Stay vigilant and aware of your environment, especially in unfamiliar or potentially hostile areas. Trust your instincts and avoid places where you feel unsafe.
• Safety in Numbers: If possible, travel with friends or in groups, especially in areas where you may feel vulnerable. There is safety in numbers.
• Self-Defense Training: Consider taking self-defence classes tailored for the LGBTQ+ community. These classes can boost your confidence and equip you with skills to protect yourself if necessary.
• Home cameras: Install a home camerathat has high resolution, wide angle lens (to cover a wide area), night vision and motion detection.(Diversity Cornwall may be able to help/advise)

4. Mental Health Care

• Seek Professional Help: If you’re struggling with fear, anxiety, or depression due to bullying or harassment, seek support from a therapist who is knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ issues.
• Online Support: Utilize hotlines and online resources like The Trevor Project (see notes) which offer confidential support from trained professionals.

5. Advocate for Safe Spaces

• Promote Inclusive Policies: Advocate for anti-bullying policies, safe spaces, and inclusivity training in schools, workplaces, and communities.
• Support Community Events: Participate in or organize events like Pride parades or awareness campaigns that foster a sense of belonging and raise visibility for LGBTQ+ issues.

6. Use Technology Wisely

• Digital Safety: Be cautious about what you share online and with whom. Use privacy settings on social media and be aware of potential threats from cyberbullying. See notes below.
• Document Incidents: If you experience harassment, document the incidents by saving messages, taking screenshots, or writing down details. This can be useful if you decide to report the behaviour.

7. Empowerment Through Education

• Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about LGBTQ+ history, rights, and advocacy. Empower yourself with knowledge and share this with others to foster understanding and reduce ignorance-driven bullying.

8. Community Involvement

• Volunteer or Advocate: Engage in activism or volunteer for organizations that work to protect and support LGBTQ+ rights. Helping others can also reinforce your own sense of safety and belonging.

Digital safety additional information:

In #6, “privacy settings” refers to the controls available on social media platforms, apps, and other online services that allow you to manage who can see your information, interact with you, and access your content. Properly using these settings can help protect your privacy, reduce the risk of cyberbullying, and maintain your safety online. Here’s how you can use privacy settings effectively:

1. Control Who Can See Your Posts

• Profile Visibility: Adjust your profile visibility settings to limit who can view your information. You can usually choose between options like “Public,” “Friends Only,” “Friends of Friends,” or “Private.”
• Custom Audience: Some platforms allow you to choose specific people or groups who can see each post. For example, you can share certain posts with close friends while keeping them hidden from others.

2. Manage Friend and Follower Requests

• Approve Connections: Set your account to approve friend or follower requests before people can connect with you. This helps prevent unwanted individuals from accessing your profile.
• Block or Unfriend: If someone is harassing or bullying you online, you can block or unfriend them, which prevents them from seeing your content and interacting with you.

3. Limit Who Can Contact You

• Message Filters: Use message filtering options to control who can send you direct messages. For example, you can set it so that only friends or people you follow can contact you directly.
• Restrict Comments: Some platforms allow you to control who can comment on your posts. You can restrict comments to friends or disable them altogether for specific posts.

4. Protect Your Personal Information

• Minimize Public Details: Avoid sharing sensitive personal information like your phone number, address, or exact location. Use privacy settings to limit who can view these details on your profile.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enable two-factor authentication for your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification (like a code sent to your phone) in addition to your password.

5. Control Tagging and Check-Ins

• Tagging Approvals: Adjust your settings to require your approval before someone can tag you in photos or posts. This prevents others from posting content that could compromise your privacy.
• Check-In Privacy: If you use location-based features, such as check-ins, ensure that only trusted people can see your location updates.

6. Review and Update Regularly

• Regular Audits: Periodically review your privacy settings to ensure they align with your current preferences. Social media platforms frequently update their features, so it’s a good idea to stay informed and adjust your settings as needed.
• Activity Logs: Some platforms provide an activity log where you can review your actions and interactions. This can help you spot and remove any posts or interactions you’re not comfortable with.

By carefully managing your privacy settings, you can reduce the likelihood of unwanted attention, harassment, or bullying and create a safer online environment for yourself.

Hotlines and online help:

1. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/article/resources-for-international-lgbtq-youth/
2. https://thelifelinecanada.ca/lbgtq2/?gad_source=1 and https://thelifelinecanada.ca/
3. https://bornthisway.foundation/resources-for-help/?utm_source=google_cpc&utm_medium=ad_grant&utm_campaign=cbc_ggrant_find_support&gad_source=1
4. https://egale.ca/awareness/?gad_source=1
5. https://itgetsbettercanada.org/get-help/