LGBTQ+ students who exp. sxl violence often face unique barriers when seeking support. Colleges & universities play a key role in ensuring LGBTQ+ student survivors receive culturally-responsive, trauma-informed, gender-affirming care that honors their identities & lived experiences.

When LGBTQ+ survivors of SV feel safe & respected, they’re more likely to disclose & accept support. You can help create safer environments by actively listening & using words that reflect their identities & experiences. Learn about gender- & sxuality-affirming language: https://pflag.org/glossary

Happy Pride! MCASA proudly supports the LGBTQ+ community. We celebrate the strength & courage of LGBTQ+ survivors of SV, as well as the orgs, like @freestatejustice.bsky.social, fighting for equitable rights for LGBTQ+ survivors in MD. We see you & we support you.

It's #SexEdForAll month! Sex education supports healthier relationships & safer communities. When youth are taught how to practice consent, respect, & healthy communication, it can help prevent sxl & relationship violence. What's your school district teaching? Engage w your community to find out!

For #MilitaryAppreciationMonth we honor the dedication of service members, veterans, & their families. Across MD, service members & advocates strengthen SV prevention efforts & support for survivors. We celebrate their service & efforts to foster accountability & support in military communities.

This Jewish American Heritage Month we honor the countless contributions Jewish orgs & communities have made in supporting survivors of SV & advancing justice, healing, & dignity for all. From providing crisis support to community care, orgs like CHANA & JCADA are key to building safer communities.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Natasha Guynes. A survivor and passionate victim advocate, she was a colleague in the fight against power-based violence and sexual exploitation. Her loss will be felt throughout the state. 📷 John Barber Jr. via The Baltimore Banner

This Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month we celebrate the AAPI advocates & orgs providing support to SV survivors. Thru community & collaboration orgs like the Korean Community Service Center of GW deliver compassionate, culturally-responsive services to AAPI survivors.

The spring edition of Frontline is live! MCASA’s Frontline is a digital newsletter on sexual violence prevention & response. In this edition, we discuss drug-facilitated sexual assault, the accessibility of reporting systems, & more. Visit our site for the full articles: https://loom.ly/hDFhq7A

A young woman w disabilities in MD was sexually assaulted while in the care of a community service provider, resulting in pregnancy & a child. Unfortunately, this isn't a unique case. Persons w disabilities exp. sexual assault at nearly 3x the rate of ppl without. Read more: https://loom.ly/SY_-ZOI

Need a gift for Mother's Day? Honor the moms in your life this weekend by supporting MCASA in their honor: https://loom.ly/NTDMjhU

This #SAAM we saw many news stories abt SV, including the discovery of a global 'rape academy.' MCASA & the Montgomery County Commission for Women condemn these abhorrent acts & reaffirm our support for survivors. Read our joint statement, which incl. resources for survivors: https://loom.ly/G13FS-o

The 25th #SAAM has ended! Thanks to all who participated in SAAM events & raised awareness of sxl violence. Survivors need our support & we couldn’t do this work w/out your help. Every voice matters+Every action counts. The work to prevent SV continues past April- how will u keep the momentum going?

It's #DenimDay - Wear denim to support survivors & protest victim blaming! Why denim? Learn more: https://loom.ly/iQvsgVU

In partnership with NSVRC, MCASA is proud to honor Delegate Luke Clippinger with a National Visionary Voice award this year. As a result of his leadership as Chair of the House Jud. Committee, SA survivors have more access to justice & fair treatment by MD courts. Read more: https://loom.ly/Ihrtqh0

MCASA supports survivors across MD & beyond. We remain committed to this work bc we want to see the day when MD is free of sexual violence. Are you interested in supporting our work? Consider an annual membership to share your commitment to ending SV. We're stronger together: https://loom.ly/iW8gJgU

It's National Crime Victims’ Rights Week! We're excited to be @ the MD Crime Victims' Rights Conference today to learn abt emerging issues in order to better serve crime victims. Do you know what victims’ rights exist in MD? If you're a survivor of SV, learn your rights by calling SALI: 301-565-2277

During the 2026 legislative session, MCASA advocated for numerous bills to fund survivor services, improve the justice response to sexual assault survivors, increase accountability for prevention in schools, & many more! Read our final report: https://loom.ly/G4hZ4LU

Healing isn’t linear. Survivors can exp. many ups & downs on their healing journey after SA. A variety of responses to trauma are normal & valid & there is no 1 “correct” way to heal & move forward. Remember that healing's an individual process- whatever your timeline looks like, it's right for you.

Campus SA is a major issue across the country. College is a time to learn & grow but 1 in 8 students will exp SA @ school. This is alarming but students r making strides in awareness & prevention. Our spring Virtual Campus Training will spotlight MD campus leaders @ a student panel! Details to come.

Community action is one of our greatest strengths as a movement! MCASA is excited about our new MD Community Ambassadors for Prevention program in partnership with DAWN to provide community-led SV prevention training w.in MD's Deaf & Hard of Hearing community. Learn more: https://loom.ly/54Y8-Rc

Rape culture thrives on normalizing sexism, racism & other harm. When we tolerate hateful beliefs & remarks we tolerate violence. One way to prevent SA is to combat hate. if you hear a harmful joke or victim blaming, correct it. By calling out hate we shift our culture to valuing respect & safety.

Our work to end SA can’t succeed without the help of community members. Small actions create big impacts- your calls & emails make our legislative advocacy possible! MD’s legislative session just ended. Sign up for MCASA e-lerts to get a copy of our report & see what passed: https://loom.ly/oa5oMq8

#NationalChildAbusePreventionMonth Nat'l estimates find at least 1 in 10 children exp. child sexual abuse in the US & about 90% of children who are abused know the person harming them. This is staggering but prevention is possible. Learn abt warning signs & how to intervene: https://loom.ly/lg22EJY

Collective action is the strength of our movement, championed by the brave Black women & women of color who brought attention to SV alongside the civil rights movement. MWOCN joins advocates, allies, & survivors to recognize the unique experiences of women of color survivors: https://loom.ly/gv_n4Ag

Believing survivors is only step 1. You can go beyond by centering them: ASK how you can help, VALIDATE their emotions, OFFER your support, & ENCOURAGE them to practice selfcare. When a survivor shares their story, it’s important to listen, keep them in control of next steps, & support their needs.

#JusticiaParaVictimas Si usted, o alguien que usted conoce, es un sobreviviente de asalto sexual, abuso sexual infantil, o tráfico sexual aprenda sus derechos. Llame a SALI: 301-565-2277.

#SurvivorsHaveRights If you, or someone you know, is a survivor of sexual assault, child sex abuse, or sex trafficking, learn your rights. Call MCASA's Sexual Assault Legal Institute - SALI: 301-565-2277. #SALIServices #SurvivorServices

Each act of sexual violence is different, and so is every survivor. Everyone processes trauma differently and has unique needs on their healing journey. Advocates at Maryland’s rape crisis centers are here to support each survivor with compassion, care, and flexibility as they heal.

#30DaysofSAAM Day of action: Wear teal today and share something you’re doing to center survivors of sexual assault in your community. Here are MCASA’s pets showing off their teal ribbons in support of survivors!

One of the most important ways to support survivors is to listen & believe them. It can be difficult to know how to respond, but your reaction to a survivor's story matters! Practice good active listening, believe them, & give the survivor control– don’t tell them what to do, just listen!

#30DaysofSAAM Keeping survivors at the center of our work is crucial. Survivors' needs are of the utmost importance: Survivors are the experts of their lives, and centering them allows our actions to focus on their needs in a compassionate, effective, and individualized way.

#30DaysofSAAM Since 2015 MCASA has supported the passage of 170+ pieces of significant legislation to support MD survivors. Meaningful progress has been made to promote justice for survivors, ensure accountability for those who cause harm, & dedicate funding to sexual assault support services.

Today we honor a milestone in our efforts to support survivors in MD. MCASA’s Sexual Assault Legal Institute was founded in 2003 to provide specialized & expert legal services to SA survivors. Since then, SALI has served 5600+ survivors seeking justice & accountability through the legal system.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month! For 25 years #SAAM has brought communities together to raise awareness, support survivors, and strengthen prevention. How are you getting involved in SAAM this year? Check out MCASA’s SAAM page to find an event near you: https://loom.ly/3-duFYk#SAAM#30DaysofSAAM

Join us on April 29th for a free training on drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) on college campuses. Learn more & register: https://loom.ly/VUOb9-s

⚠️ SB932 would require all social media users to publicly reveal their location. Minors, however, wouldn't have to, which would only make it easier for predators to discern which profiles belong to kids. Learn more & take action to oppose SB932: https://loom.ly/OqISr1M

The MD Community Ambassadors for Prevention are now offering free sexual violence prevention training focused on the experiences of Deaf & Hard of Hearing (HoH) communities. All trainings will be presented in ASL & are available for scheduling in April. Submit a request: https://loom.ly/4uETo3I

⚠️ MD’s sex crimes law needs updating. SB407 increases penalties for teachers & other persons in authority who molest children under 13 & creates harsher punishments for persons in authority who are repeat offenders. Ask the JPR Committee to protect children under 13: https://loom.ly/CS7o0W0

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Remember to ask for consent today (and every day) so everyone can have a safe celebration!

Did you know only 20% of ppl seeking civil legal services are able to get the help they need? That means the majority of Marylanders facing issues like custody disputes, eviction, or debt collection must navigate the legal system on their own. Justice shouldn't depend on what's in your wallet.

⚠️ People who speak out about discrimination & sexual misconduct deserve our support. Don’t allow unfair litigation to silence free speech. Please ask the Judiciary Committee to support HB650 with amendments to stop silencing reports of discrimination & sexual assault: https://loom.ly/CS7o0W0

On #InternationalWomensDay we honor all women who have survived sexual violence & the women who've supported & fought for survivors. Sexual violence disproportionately impacts women - will you join us in our mission & #GiveToGain gender equality? Support our work: https://loom.ly/dmkR1d4

The winter edition of Frontline is live! MCASA’s Frontline is a digital newsletter on sexual violence prevention & response. In this edition, we discuss the importance of preventing sexual violence among older adult populations, & more. Visit our site for the full articles: https://loom.ly/r0cP1OY

Love is respect, & we all deserve that in our relationships. Together, we can prevent teen dating violence & sexual assault by educating youth about healthy relationships & consent, acknowledging when behaviors are unhealthy, & supporting our young people & each other to seek support.

#JusticiaParaVictimas Si usted, o alguien que usted conoce, es un sobreviviente de asalto sexual, abuso sexual infantil, o tráfico sexual aprenda sus derechos. Llame a SALI: 301-565-2277.

#SurvivorsHaveRights If you, or someone you know, is a survivor of sexual assault, child sex abuse, or sex trafficking, learn your rights. Call MCASA's Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI): 301-565-2277.

What's a healthy relationship look like? Dating can be hard to navigate as a young person, but here are some positive signs to look for. A healthy connection is built w consent, respect, communication, trust & honesty. Your relationship should feel safe & happy, while maintaining your individuality.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: There's still time to get your ticket for the 20th Annual MD Women of Color Network Conference! The event will feature 6 workshops, a networking session, dynamic Keynote Speaker Dr. Indira Henard, & a powerful survivor panel. Learn more & register by 2/23: https://loom.ly/On4AmyA

⚠️ This week, the House & Senate Public Safety subcommittees have budget hearings on funding for rape crisis centers & other victim services. Survivors need services now more than ever before & funding cuts would be devastating. Ask members to Fund Survivor Services: https://loom.ly/YQ89RrI