Help American LGBTQ Victims of Violence Overseas

Abbie loves working abroad as a digital nomad. She has met people from all over the world.

She met a man who was also a digital nomad and they became friends. She made it clear to him she identified as LGBTQ. They would meet once a week or so for coffee to discuss their various travels. When he offered to come to her home the next day to pick her up to go for a trip up to the mountains she agreed.

It was a lovely day and they found a nice place for a picnic. As they were packing up to leave, he began trying to hug and kiss her. When Abbie resisted he became even more forceful. He was much stronger and much bigger than Abbie. She fought him off the best she could but he overpowered her. Abbie was terrified. She didn't know if he was going to kill her after he raped her. He drove her back home in silence.

When Abbie contacted us she was still in shock. Our advocate Kate was able to provide information about LGBTQ resources in her area, her options for law enforcement, medical response, legal resources, counseling and provided emotional support.

Abbie didn't know what she wanted to do so Kate gave her instructions on self-collection of evidence while she decided what to do next.

Abbie decided not to press charges. She felt it would be his word against hers. They had been seen together at the local cafe numerous times and no one would believe it was not consensual.

Abbie is in counseling and tells us she is slowly feeling bettter. She is grateful for our support.

Without your support we would not be able to provide critical services to LGBTQ identified victims.

Thank you for believing in our mission!

The Pathways Team

Without a doubt, the past two years have been challenging for all of us. The pandemic has changed the way we work, how we live, kept us in isolation and often plunged us into financial hardship.

With international travel restrictions, study abroad programs suspended and stay at home orders, we have seen less LGBTQ sexual assault victims needing assistance than average in 2020 and 2021. Because of donations like yours, we are still able to provide dedicated support to the LGBTQ victims who do reach out to us in their time of need.

We expect 2022 to be the opposite. A surge of Americans sexually assaulted abroad is unfortunately a reality as international travel resumes. Sexual predators that have been isolated and have not had the opportunity to seek out victims will be ready, seeking out their next victim.

As always, Pathways will be available to assist to the best of our ability.

Thank you and we wish you and your families happiness, health and prosperity as we enter a New Year.

The Pathways' Team

Lyla was working abroad when the pandemic began. Her employer requested she stay and work from her apartment in the city. Lyla was happy living in Germany. She had made some good friends and loved her job.

Lyla took evening walks to help offset the isolation. One evening after a walk she stopped by the store before she returned to her apartment. She got in the elevator with her bag of groceries. As the doors were closing a man suddenly bolted inside at the last minute. He nodded at her politely but something about him made her nervous.

She got out of the elevator on her floor and the man also got out, offering to help her with her bag of groceries. The man became agitated when Lyla declined and he started insulting her. Lyla quickly knocked on a neighbor's door but no one answered. The man grabbed Lyla and began to attack her. Luckily another neighbor heard Lyla scream and opened their door. The man ran.

Lyla was very scared and upset about the attack She believed the man may have targeted her for being a lesbian as he was spewing homophobic slurs at her during the attack.

A Pathways advocate was able to work with Lyla for several weeks offering emotional support, resources and connected her with a counselor.

Because of your donations we were able to provide critical support to Lyla during her crisis. Lyla has let us know she is doing much better because of our help. Thank you!

The Pathways Team

Filipe was finally able to travel to Spain when covid restrictions had lifted last month. He had delayed his trip almost 1 1/2 years as so many Americans had to because of the pandemic.

Filipe was so excited to visit his grandparents and other relatives he had not seen since he was a boy. It was the trip of a lifetime.

When Filipe emailed us his trip had turned into a nightmare when he was harrassed for being gay by a group of men. He was hiking in a rather isoldated area. When the verbal insults turned into a phsical assault, Filipe did the best to protect himself. Luckily, another hiker heard the commotion and came to help Filipe and the men scattered.

Filipe didn't want to go to the police or tell his family but he needed someone to communicate with about the assault confidentially and also help him get counseling when he returned home.

A Pathways' advocate was able to assist Filipe with his needs because of donors like you. Thank you for caring about the LGBTQ victims of violence overseas.

Paula Lucas

Founder

David had moved abroad for an amazing job opportunity just before the pandemic started. David works in cyber security so his job was not compromised and he was able to continue working for his company remotely from his apartment in Switzerland.

He did manage to get outside and go for walks. One day after coming home from a walk there was a knock on his apartment door. David looked through the secuirty monitor and a man showed him an apartment security badge. He opened the door.

David was beaten and sexually assaulted by the man pretending to be apartment security. David was afraid to report the attack to the police because he was gay and he did not want his company to know he was assaulted. A Pathways' advocate was able to email with David and provide medical resources, advocacy and emotional support to David. He is doing better and is seeing a counselor to help overcome the trauma of the attack.

Without donors like you we would not have the staff to be able to provide critical help to victims like David.

Thank you for your support!

The Pathways' Team