NEWS:
• Safety and Parking Near GLBT Clubs
• Metro Transit Safety and Security
• POSTERS: Tips on How to Take Charge of Your Safety
• Crystal Meth Use Among Survey Sample of DC Area Residents

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
• Protecting Yourself from Internet Hookups
• GLBT Youth and Suicide
• Victims Reminded That They Qualify for Compensation
• Address Bullying to Prevent Future Tragedies


Safety and Parking Near GLBT Clubs
With warm weather quickly approaching, the GLLU anticipates GLBT community members to take advantage of the city's many night spots. Although some may choose to take public transportation (buses, Metro, taxis, etc.), we know many of you will decide to drive your personal vehicles. When doing so, you need to take extra precautions to ensure you have a safe night and return to a car that is in the same condition as you left it.

1. PARKING: Always remember to read all signs before choosing a parking space. The best way to read the signs is to start at the top sign and begin to read. You should ask yourself, "Does that apply to me at this time?" If the answer is "Yes," you should not park there. Continue reading the signs until your reach the last one. If you have answered every question, "No, That does not apply to me," then you are probably OK to park at that location." District of Columbia parking regulation can be confusing. Your best rule of thumb is to check if you are blocking an intersection, crosswalk, fire hydrant or entrance to a building. If you are, don't park there. Also, if you don't see a sign, check the entire block, as sometimes signs are spread out further than you might think. Just because another vehicle parked there does not mean it is a legal parking space. Parking tickets are issued by multiple law enforcement agencies operating in the city, so it is likely you will receive a ticket if you park illegally.

2. VALUABLES: After finding a legal parking space, be sure to remove all valuables from view. This includes, GPS devices, iPods, loose change, umbrellas, clothing and anything else that could be easily removed from the vehicle. In fact, it's best that you not put these valuables in your trunk or hide them once you've reached your destination, since thieves can easily watch what you're doing and break in once you've walked away. Trunk access is easy once the car windows are broken. You should also be sure not to leave your vehicle's registration or title inside the vehicle, as anyone in possession of those documents could use them fraudulently. Wipe off any suction cup marks from the inside of your windshield if you mount your GPS device that way and hide charging cables for electronic devices -- these things clue a would-be thief that you have expensive gadgets in the car, even if you don't.

3. SAFETY: If possible, don't park on dark or seldom-traveled streets. If you do, make sure you are with others as you exit and return to the vehicle. If you are alone, ask someone to accompany to your vehicle, or have them drive you there after they return to their vehicle. If you sense someone is following you or you pull up to a parking space and there are suspicious individuals nearby, don't park there.

4. SOBRIETY: Remember, the only real way to ensure you are sober is to not consume alcoholic beverages or do drugs. If you do, you must assume you are impaired, only if even to a small degree. Obviously, operating a vehicle while impaired is illegal and you run the risk of being arrested. More importantly, when you operate a vehicle while impaired, you run the risk of injuring yourself or someone else (passengers, pedestrians and other drivers). Lastly, when you are impaired, your ability to perceive danger is greatly impacted. You are less likely to sense suspicious activity and take evasive precautions. For all these reasons, we recommend consuming alcohol in moderation and always having a designated person with you, who will not consume alcoholic beverages. They can serve as your eyes, ears and driver.

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Metro Transit Safety and Security
The Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (or as many locals know it, Metro) provides public bus and rail transit service to DC and neighboring Maryland and Virginia communities. Thousands of commuters and tourists alike use this public transportation every day. In addition to the invaluable transportation services, Metro offers many useful safety tips to individuals using the system.

For example, in case of threatening or disruptive behavior aboard a Metro bus, the bus operator can activate a silent alarm that goes through Central Control to the police. The disruptive passenger has no way of knowing the alarm has been activated or that police are on their way. When the alarm is activated, the destination sign on most buses automatically changes to EMERGENCY! CALL POLICE and the outside running lights flash to let approaching police know which bus sent out the alarm. On Metro trains, the call boxes at the end of each rail car enable any rider to report an emergency to the operator. The train's operator is in constant radio communication with Central Control. For your own safety, always keep your jewelry and other valuables out of sight and turn rings so that precious stones are on the palm side of your hand. Carry your wallet inside your coat or side trouser pocket, never in your rear trouser pocket. Beware of loud arguments or commotions that may be staged to distract you while your pocket is picked and if your pocket is picked, yell out immediately to warn others. Don't be afraid to shout. Tell the train or bus operator and request the police. For more information about bus and train safety, as well as emergency preparedness in the Metro system, visit www.wmata.com.

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POSTERS: Tips on How to Take Charge of Your Safety
The Metropolitan Police Department's Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU), Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) and the DC Center have collaborated to produce safety posters (listed below) for local bars, clubs and restaurants. Although this effort comes on the heels of several well-publicized crimes involving GLBT community members, these organizations had been discussing such a collaboration for some time. These posters, which are intended to be a reminder to members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allied communities, are the first in many collaborative efforts between these and other GLBT organizations in Washington, D.C. It is our hope the increased awareness regarding personal safety, along with increased public awareness and police efforts, will result in a decrease in violence against the GLBT community. Please encourage businesses to display these posters prominently where patrons will see them. GLLU members have already placed these posters in several area establishments. We want to thank the community for its support in this safety campaign. The posters are 8.5" x 11" PDF pages for easy printing.

Poster One  |  Poster Two  |  Poster Three

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Crystal Meth Use Among Survey Sample of DC Area Residents
From the DC Crystal Meth Working Group:

The results of the first community-based survey regarding crystal methamphetamine use among DC area residents were released today by the DC Crystal Meth Working Group. The release of the data was made during a town hall held in commemoration of National Meth Awareness Day. Since quantitative data assessing the magnitude of crystal meth use among DC area residents was severely lacking, the DC Crystal Meth Working Group developed a questionnaire which was self-administered anonymously to 1,109 DC area residents who attended Black Pride, Capital Pride or Adams Morgan Day events in Washington, D.C. this year.

Overall, 8% of the respondents reported using crystal methamphetamine at least once. Among those who reported ever using crystal methamphetamine:

• 93% were gay or bisexual
• 69% were white/Caucasian males
• 70% were aged 20-39
• 23% were HIV+
• 67% used other illicit drugs such as cocaine, crack, marijuana, ecstasy or poppers
• 27% were non-Caucasian respondents (Blacks, Hispanic, and Multiracial)

Sixty percent of those who have ever used crystal methamphetamine knew where to go for help for an addiction; 81% of respondents overall did not know. Most notably, 92% of the respondents overall reported never using crystal methamphetamine.

Although these results are not representative of the DC population as a whole, they do provide a 'glimpse' of who has ever used crystal methamphetamine among certain groups and subgroups among the DC area residents who volunteered to answer our survey," states Michael Plankey, Ph.D., epidemiologist at Georgetown University Medical Center, who analyzed the data. "The DC Crystal Meth Working Group plans to continue it mission to increase awareness of educational and treatment resources concerning crystal methamphetamine use particularly among current and future vulnerable populations," Dr. Plankey adds.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group, founded in 2005 by The Center, is a coalition of concerned citizens and community organizations committed to providing information and resources to help people make informed choices about crystal meth. The working group includes: The Center, The Lambda Center at The Psychiatric Institute of Washington, Whitman Walker Clinic, and a number of community activists that together coordinate activities with the Metropolitan Police Department's Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU), the HIV/AIDS Administration of the DC Department of Health, the Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration (APRA) of the DC Department of Health, and the Council of the District of Columbia. For more information about the DC Crystal Meth Working Group, please visit www.LetsTalkAboutMeth.org.

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Protecting Yourself from Internet Hookups
The Internet offers some great opportunities to meet people in a non-threatening environment, but with that anonymity comes an opportunity for criminals to prey upon vulnerable and/or unsuspecting victims. Crimes such as theft, robbery, assaults (sexual and non-sexual), fraud and identity theft are all possible forms of victimization experienced by people who choose to use the Internet as a place to meet new acquaintances. The Metropolitan Police Department provides some very basic ways in which you can minimize your risk of be victimized on their Web site.

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GLBT Youth and Suicide
Are GLBT youth at a higher risk for suicide than heterosexual youth? Yes! GLBT teenagers are at significantly greater risk for suicide attempts than heterosexual teens. GLBT youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide that heterosexual young people. It is estimated that up to 30% of the completed youth suicides are committed by GLBT youth annually (from Gibson, Paul. LCSW, "Gay Male and Lesbian Suicide," Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1989.)

The following was gathered from a Seattle Public School survey found the following:

• GLBT teens were more than twice as likely as heterosexual teens to report making a specific plan for suicide GLBT teens who had been harassed because of their orientation were almost twice as likely to have made a suicide plan as those who had not.
• GLBT youth were four times as likely as straight teens to have made a suicide attempt in the past year which was serious enough to have been treated by a doctor or a nurse.
• Transgender youth probably have even higher risk, because they are probably even more likely to have been harassed and ostracized and are less likely to have found a support system.

According to an article in the Journal of Adolescent Research, lesbian, and gay adolescents who attempt suicide share the following characteristics and experiences:

• Disclosed their identity to a greater extent, and by doing so, lost more friends and experienced more victimization
• Lower self-esteem
• Acknowledged more mental health problems
• Early awareness
• Peer rejection
• Victimization.

Other major risk factors for GLBT youth:

• Rejection (or fear of rejection) from family and peers
• Violence from family and peers
• Alcohol or Drug Use
• Limited coping skills.

This information and more can be found at www.metrokc.gov/health/glbt/youthsuicide.htm

Call the Trevor Hotline at 866-488-7386. (The Trevor Helpline is the only national 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention hot line aimed at gay and questioning youth.), 1-800-SUICIDE (national suicide prevention hotline) or Crisislink at 703-527-4077 (DC Metro-Area crisis helpline).

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Victims Reminded That They May Qualify for Compensation
Many victims of violent crime suffer more than just physical injury or emotional trauma. Violent crime frequently costs victims monetarily as well. DC's Crime Victims Compensation Program (CVCP) assists victims and their families with the financial burden of a violent crime. Managed by the DC Superior Court, the CVCP pays for bills that are not covered by other sources such as private health, automobile or life insurance, medical aid programs, and Social Security Income or Disability. The CVCP may provide financial assistance up to $25,000 per claim. There are sub-limits on the amount of assistance claimants may receive; for example, the limit for funeral expenses is $3,000.

Following are some of the expenses covered by DC's CVCP: crime-related medical and mental-health counseling bills; funeral and burial costs; wages, support or services lost as a direct result of the crime; crime scene cleaning costs; replacement costs for clothing held as evidence; temporary emergency housing for domestic violence victims. Emergency awards, limited to $1,000, are also available in cases where the claimant is able to show that undue financial hardship will be incurred if assistance is not granted expediently.

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Address Bullying to Prevent Future Tragedies
The effects of bullying should never be underestimated as evidenced by the recent tragedy of an 8-year-old student from Robert R. Gray Elementary School who hanged himself as a consequence of the victimization. Fellow students, teachers, others in the boy's life, as well as the community, are shocked by this extreme resolution to a problem. It is the ultimate horror for any family to have to go through. Read more about this from Gazzette.net.

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