Trauma Informed and Culturally Affirming Best Practices when Addressing the Intersections of Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Sexual Violence

Black Indigenous Youth of Color who also identify as queer, transgender, and/or gender diverse are far more likely to experience sexual violence and revictimization. As out queer survivors of sexual violence living in the Southeastern U.S., we have dedicated our careers to better understanding the needs of these stigmatized, oppressed, and vulnerable populations.

In this session, we will provide evidence-based best practices to attendees regarding trauma-informed best practices when working with Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color who also identify as or who are questioning their identity as LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and two spirit). Presenters will encourage discussion of common myths that impact survivors of all genders, races, and sexual orientations through an intersectional approach. The session will be broken into three sections: 1) unpacking cultural impacts, privilege, oppressions, and socially constructed identities when serving stigmatized and traumatized youth, 2) understanding CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) and the impacts of sexual violence on LGBTQIA2S+ youth of color (i.e. QTBIPOC- queer and trans Black Indigenous People of Color), and 3) how to use trauma-informed and culturally affirming best practices when meeting the needs and removing barriers for LGBTQIA2S+ CSEC survivors of color.

In this session we will discuss our lived experiences as out queer partners and survivors in the Southeast and, with consent, the experiences of those we have served as social workers and researchers in the form of case studies to encourage critical thinking and actionable takeaways. Our topics include but are not limited to: basic terms and definitions, language, gender and racially affirming care, intersectionality and revictimization, as well as resources and helpful tips for agencies and individual providers who aim to practice trauma-informed methodologies.

We will discuss the overrepresentation of LGBTQIA2S+ Youth of Color in the homeless/displaced and runaway youth populations, how exploiters target and groom LGBTQIA2S+ youth of color, and ways current service systems are not created to properly identify nor respond to LGBTQIA2S+ youth of color. Throughout the CSEC section, we will share confidential youth stories/cases to encourage dialogue where we will ask participants to identify risk factors, barriers to support, and how to integrate culturally affirming best practices into case management, clinical practices, and advocacy work. The remaining time is dedicated to understanding best practices for working directly with LGBTQIA2S+ survivors with various racial identities and how agencies can incorporate trauma informed best practices and policies.