Please view the following tips on how to best protect yourself and how to reduce the risk of an assault.

Use common sense

• Try to leave bars/clubs/community centers with people -- preferably friends
• If you leave with someone you've just met, introduce him or her to a friend or even the
• bartender. Make sure that person knows you’ve told other people you’re leaving
• together
• If you’re unsure about leaving with someone -- don’t
• When at known lesbian and gay establishments, be alert and be aware of your
• surroundings. Don’t assume you’re in a safe place
• Walk on well-lit streets where there are people and traffic
• Avoid shrubbery or doorways that might hide an attacker
• Give yourself permission to be "impolite" or "over cautious"
• You don’t have to talk to strangers who approach you
• Be aware of who is behind you, cross the street or let them pass you

Tips for safety

• Attackers expect a passive victim
• If you feel unsafe, trust your instincts and act accordingly or leave!
• If you see someone being hassled, help them or call for help
• Take a self-defense course and practice with a friend
• Carry a whistle in your pocket

What to do if you are assaulted

• Call police as soon as possible -- Dial 911 -- tell them that you have been assaulted
• If your keys are stolen with identification:
  • Don’t return home alone
  • If you have a roommate, call home and tell him or her
  • Replace your locks
• Seek medical help, if necessary
• Have any police officer you speak with provide you with his or her name, badge number
• and your case number
• Don’t be ashamed -- ask a friend to be with you as soon as possible
• Try to detail on paper a description of the attackers and the incident
• Seek help, counseling
• Please note: Someone calling you a derogatory name is not a crime. It is constitutionally protected free speech. If the comments are accompanied by threats, threatening behavior or physical harm, it then becomes a crime.

Vulnerable areas on your attacker’s body and what you can do

• Scream and shout
• Call for help by shouting "FIRE!"
• Blow your whistle
• Box the ears or punch the temple
• Poke the hollow of the throat with fingers, thumb, cane or umbrella
• Jab the solar plexus with umbrella, cane or elbow
• Snap your knee into the groin area
• Keep kicks aimed low
• Stomp on the top of the foot with your heel
• Slap the palm of your hand or fist up under the nose, push in and up at the same time
• Kick the kneecap
• If grabbed from behind, kick to the knee, scrape the shin, and stomp the instep with
• your heel

LGBTQIA2S+ Youth

• Let others know when and where you're going
• Know your rights
• Be aware of who to call in case of arrest
• Avoid bringing anything you wouldn't want to get arrested with
• Bring some form of ID
• Avoid wearing contact lenses, which can become saturated with tear gas
• Seek supportive communities online, such as TrevorSpace
• Customize your online experience
• Verify online friends
• Educate yourself about online safety
• Protect your personal information
• Avoid scams
• Create strong passwords and consider VPNs
• Adjust your settings

Remember

• No method is foolproof.
• No single method is the best one in every situation.
• All situations are different.
• Every attacker is different.
• Your best weapon is your own brain.
• Use your common sense, imagination and good judgement.

These safety tips were provided by the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.