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This Guide is for victim advocates working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals who may be experiencing stalking. Other service providers, individuals experiencing stalking, and friends/family of people experiencing stalking may also find it useful in supporting victims of stalking. It provides basic information about the dynamics of stalking and safety planning, co-occurring crimes, specific tactics used against LGBTQ+ individuals, safety planning strategies that support LGBTQ+ stalking victims, and issues to be aware of when supporting LGBTQ+ victims.

Stalking impacts people of all ages, including older adults. While research specific to stalking among older adults is limited, it’s clear that this crime is not limited to younger victims — more than a million people over the age of 50 are stalked each year. Because multiple forms of abuse in later life often co-occur and intersect, it is important to identify and address the full scope of a survivor’s experience — including stalking behaviors that often accompany other abuse.

A slideshow for a public awareness workshop on the basics of stalking.

A guided script for the facilitator of a public awareness workshop on the basics of stalking.

Abusers employ stalkerware as a technique to keep an eye on and manage victims. While it may be intended to operate covertly on a victim’s device, it is intrusive and dangerous for survivors because it can keep track of a variety of activities they carry out on their device.

A poster detailing actions that fall under the categories of domestic violence and stalking.

A poster detailing actions that fall under the categories of domestic violence and stalking.

A poster featuring crossed-out words and phrases that are commonly used to discount the experiences and feelings of stalking victims. Also shows the slogan “Stalking: Know it, name it, stop it.”

A poster featuring crossed-out words and phrases that are commonly used to discount the experiences and feelings of stalking victims. Also shows the slogan “Stalking: Know it, name it, stop it.”

Some stalkers meet their victims through the workplace as colleagues, customers, vendors, or other professional acquaintances. Other stalkers — like intimate partners — may target their victims in multiple locations including the workplace.