With the Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality and Caitlyn Jenner’s iconic Vanity Fair cover, issues faced by the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community dominated headlines this summer. As we celebrate these victories and the headlines fade, activists continue to rightfully point out the work that remains. We know that […]
Archive | Domestic and Sexual Violence
Current Focus
MaineFocus on Sexual Violence: This year, we will examine child victims, whose lives are forever altered and the crime against them is often unrecognized, misunderstood or ignored. We’ll also examine programs that treat sex offenders, many of whom were victimized themselves as children. What can Maine do help kids and break this cycle?
MaineFocus on Domestic Violence: We will turn our attention to rehabilitation of domestic violence offenders in Maine. From the Maine State Prison to small anti-violence nonprofits, offenders are given the chance to change. The question: Will they?
How you help end abuse when you attend a Domestic Violence Awareness Month event
Domestic and Sexual Violence Maine FocusFive reasons to participate.
Sex isn’t against the law. Rape is
Domestic and Sexual Violence Maine FocusIn documents that were made public yesterday, we learned that in a sworn deposition, Bill Cosby admitted he planned to give prescription Quaaludes to women he wanted to have “sex” with. Rape sounds so harsh, doesn’t it? Even the term sexual assault can seem a bit severe. As a result, several media outlets regularly sanitize sexual […]
LGBTQ victims of abuse share their stories in this video
Domestic and Sexual Violence Maine FocusWe know it happens. The world is becoming more and more accepting of LGBTQ relationships. As we become more understanding and more open, we must also keep in mind a dark reality: the reality that some LGBTQ relationships are abusive. In some ways, domestic violence in LGBTQ relationships is much the same as it is […]
Maine elders are victims of abuse, too. Here are 5 ways you can help
Domestic and Sexual Violence Maine FocusIt’s hard to miss headlines about Maine’s aging population and what it means for the future of our state. What we don’t hear about as often is the domestic and sexual violence that many of Maine’s older residents experience. The research is difficult to come by because, whereas elder abuse is already significantly underreported, domestic […]
After Josh Duggar revelations, 19 facts about child sexual abuse
Domestic and Sexual Violence Maine FocusNews reports, blog posts, TV interviews, social media posts and more have covered recent reports of Josh Duggar, oldest of the Duggars to appear in their reality TV show “19 Kids and Counting,” admitting that as a juvenile he repeatedly sexually abused his sisters. When high profile cases like these surface and more people become […]
5 reasons why domestic violence isn’t inevitable
Domestic and Sexual Violence Maine FocusEach year in Maine, domestic violence accounts for approximately half of the state’s homicides. Every 1 hour and 35 minutes, a domestic violence assault is reported to Maine law enforcement — and many other assaults go unreported. With statistics like these, it can be easy to become discouraged about the prospect of never ending abuse […]
Sexuality and sexual assault: They both exist in later life
Domestic and Sexual Violence Maine FocusFor older adults, if their mental capacity changes, it may be difficult to determine intimacy versus assault/exploitation.
‘But what if they’re lying?’ How Maine serves rape victims in jail
Domestic and Sexual Violence Maine Focus“But what if they’re lying? Aren’t you ever worried about that? What if they’re just trying to get attention?” As Maine’s sexual assault support centers are increasingly serving incarcerated survivors in the state’s correctional facilities, several people have asked me these questions. By and large, however, I know that incarcerated survivors are telling the truth. […]
From Machias: ‘Please don’t shout, Daddy’ and other bold statements against abuse
Domestic and Sexual Violence Maine FocusAs part of their senior project, University of Maine at Machias students Michelle Grant and Jordyn Knowles launched a local Clothesline Project. It’s a national program that aims to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence. The seniors held T-shirt making workshops and a domestic violence awareness walk April 12. At the end of the […]