To all of our new followers in the gaming/streaming communities & wrestling communities and everyone following #SpeakingOut & the Twitch blackout today, we see you & we hear you.

We’ve put together this thread of information and resources for you:

To start, resources to get help:
—National Sexual Assault Hotline—confidential, anonymous support 24/7 by phone & chat at 800.656.HOPE & http://online.rainn.org 
— http://rainn.org —resources for survivors & loved ones
—Find local help at http://centers.rainn.org .

Reckoning with violence and abuse within an industry that you hold dear is difficult, but it is necessary work—because every 73 seconds another person in America is sexually assaulted. That means you probably know at least one survivor of sexual violence.

Sexual violence affects people of all backgrounds. It’s important to keep in mind that many survivors face unique barriers to getting help and justice because of their identities.

Here are two articles explaining some unique barriers for Black survivors: https://www.rainn.org/news/many-black-survivors-reporting-raises-complicated-issues and LGBTQ survivors: https://www.rainn.org/news/barriers-reporting-sexual-violence-lgbtq-communities.

To any survivor reading this, the assault, abuse, and/or harassment you experienced is not your fault. You deserve to find healing, justice, and peace. You deserve support.

As a survivor, you may feel a range of emotions after experiencing harassment or assault including: anger, fear, shame, guilt, betrayal, powerlessness, & a loss of control. You may also experience anxiety, depression, PTSD, or suicidal thoughts. You are not alone in this.

There is help available and healing can start at any time. Healing looks different for everyone. Some find therapy helpful, others find hope in connecting with loved ones or advocating for other survivors. Remember, you know what is best for your own healing process.

It is very common for a survivor to not come forward immediately after an experience with sexual violence. As we’ve seen in these conversations, survivors can face personal and oftentimes, professional consequences.

Survivors may fear retaliation from the perpetrator or from their place of employment. They may fear not being believed or that they will not be helped when they come forward.

For many survivors this is a reality, and as a family member, friend, or observer of these conversations, your support can be a crucial part of a survivor’s healing journey. Here are a few simple actions you can take:

1. Learn our ‘TALK’ acronym for responding to disclosures and supporting survivors.

2. Donate at http://donate.rainn.org . We operate the National Sexual Assault Hotline, fight for policy changes like ending the rape kit backlog, & provide free educational resources through our website. Your local sexual assault service provider is a great place to support too.

3. Have ongoing conversations about consent and preventing & responding to sexual violence among your friend groups, families, at work, with your fans, and in your online commuities. RT’ing this thread is a great way to start.

Thank you for having these discussions, taking action, donating, and helping us support survivors. It takes continuous dedication from everyone to create change and we’re so glad that you’ve joined us.