Engaging Change

"Queer sex" -- we're talking about it!

Engaging Change is a project of Sexual Assault Support Services dedicated to preventing sexual violence and promoting safe, healthy, consensual sex in the LGBTIQ community.

LGBTIQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer or Questioning.

Sexual Violence Exists in Our Community

Sexual violence does not only happen in heterosexual relationships -- it can occur in queer relationships as well. Sexual violence is also a form of oppression used against the LGBTIQ community by heterosexual perpetrators. Many members of the LGBTIQ community have experienced sexual violence in these contexts.

Because of the homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and heterosexism that LGBTIQ folks face on a regular basis, SASS recognizes that all sexual and gender minority people have survived and are surviving violence.

Engaging Change is:

• working to decrease sexual violence occurring in LGBTIQ communities.
• providing presentations and trainings to prevent, and improve the response to, sexual violence affecting LGBTIQ people.
• fostering open discussion about safe and healthy LGBTIQ sex and relationships.
• supporting and enhancing community involvement in sexual violence prevention in LGBTIQ communities.
• providing culturally competent advocacy, support groups and other services to LGBTIQ survivors.
• enhancing community awareness and changing systems to prevent LGBTIQ sexual violence.
• promoting culturally competent policies for serving LGBTIQ survivors of sexual violence in the community.