Women's Coalition of St. Croix to Host Forum Today Focused on How Domestic Violence Affects Marginalized Groups

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), and annually, the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix (WCSC) hosts a number of events to raise awareness around this crime that affects families and communities-at-large.

For DVAM 2021, WCSC has partnered with the Virgin Islands Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Council (VIDVSAC), Legal Services of the Virgin Islands (LSVI) and the PFLAG Interest Group, to host the first forum focused on domestic violence and how it can affect people who identify with groups that have been marginalized historically. The forum will include a panel discussion and a question-and-answer segment for audience participation. Panelists will represent a variety of public service organizations, including Disability Rights of the Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands Department of Health.

The “DV in Special Populations Virtual Forum” will be held via Zoom, on Wednesday, October 27, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Special populations to be discussed include: people with disabilities, seniors, people who self-identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and others (LGBTQIA+), immigrants and people who do not speak English.

“Tactics used to isolate or otherwise cause harm can target a survivor’s age, mental capacity, sexual orientation, a disability or their gender identity,” noted Clema S. Lewis, WCSC’s Executive Director and moderator for the event. Programs and services available to all victims and survivors in the U.S. Virgin Islands will also be discussed, including legal services.