Top Sexual Assault Hotline Bans Referrals To Resources For Marginalized Groups | EUROtoday

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The largest anti-sexual violence group within the United States is prohibiting its staff from making referrals to assets for marginalized communities — reportedly out of worry that the Trump administration will minimize its funding for selling range, fairness and inclusion.

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) has dropped greater than two dozen assets from its listing of permitted referrals, in line with paperwork obtained by The New York Times. Staff and volunteers who reply telephone calls, on-line chats and texts have been advised to not make referrals to organizations that assist immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals — who’re at disproportionately larger threat of experiencing sexual violence.

“Our priority is and always will be to ensure the continuation of our mission of ending sexual violence and helping every survivor who reaches out to us,” a RAINN spokesperson advised HuffPost on Thursday.

But RAINN confirmed to the Times that it has eliminated referrals to LGBTQ-centered psychological well being hotlines, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a bunch educating college students on sex-based discrimination, and books on understanding same-sex sexual violence, amongst others.

Stefan Turkheimer, vice president of public policy at Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), speaks at the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2025.
Stefan Turkheimer, vice chairman of public coverage at Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), speaks on the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2025.

Kayla Bartkowski by way of Getty Images

RAINN and its native associates run the National Sexual Assault Hotline, one of many nation’s largest disaster strains for survivors of sexual violence. RAINN additionally operates a federally funded disaster line for members of the navy.

The nonprofit attributed the modifications to President Donald Trump’s govt orders that minimize federal funding for organizations with range, fairness and inclusion initiatives. The orders presently face authorized challenges, however RAINN moved to adjust to them regardless.

“We have done everything possible to ensure both that we are compliant with federal requirements and that we stay true to our values of offering every survivor the respect and support they deserve,” the spokesperson mentioned. “And that’s never going to change.”

The spokesperson didn’t instantly say whether or not the group is planning so as to add various assets for marginalized individuals to make up for ones that have been dropped.

RAINN beforehand confronted backlash for eradicating all point out of transgender individuals from its web site, The Washington Post reported in February. The group erased a web page that includes tales by trans survivors in addition to one other detailing RAINN’s inclusion coverage, in line with archived data obtained by journalist Mady Castigan.

Volunteers have reportedly despatched a number of letters to RAINN’s board of administrators urging the group to revive assets for marginalized communities and create a plan for working ought to the group lose federal funding. The most up-to-date letter cited the Trevor Project, a suicide-prevention group for LGBTQ youth that launched an emergency fundraising marketing campaign to maintain its assets within the face of potential funding cuts.

“When trans, queer, Black, brown, Asian and undocumented survivors come to the hotline in crisis, we are not allowed to provide them with the same level of supportive care as other survivors,” the latest letter mentioned, in line with the Times. “RAINN may face uncertain risks in the future if we stand by marginalized survivors, but we are certain to lose our values now if we do not stand with them today.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sexual-assault-hotline-bans-resources-marginalized-trump-rainn_n_68263545e4b029d8a610967d