The Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura – Outing Violence report, funded by It’s Not Okay, included a survey about experiences of violence and a series of community hui, from Whangarei to Dunedin, which asked Rainbow communities what they needed.
Dickson said the findings showed people in Rainbow communities didn’t know where to go for help because they felt current domestic violence and sexual abuse services served heterosexual people.
The findings showed impacts of sexual violence in Rainbow communities were severe and included high rates of insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, depression, and drinking and taking drugs. Most people experienced sexual violence from their partner, but more than a third experienced sexual violence from a stranger.