Supernova — a global platform to support queer people in abusive relationships

Chayn
Chayn
Jul 25, 2017 · 4 min read
The Supernova Project

“Seventeen-year-old Julia has been with her girlfriend, Audrey, for over a year. Recently, they’ve hit a rough patch in their relationship — Audrey gets jealous whenever Julia goes out with her friends and constantly accuses her of cheating. Whenever they get into an argument, Audrey threatens to tell Julia’s family that she’s a lesbian, which could mean that Julia would be disowned and left homeless.

When Julia confides in a friend about her relationship problems, her friend explains that she’s not experiencing abuse because Audrey is a woman and there’s never been any physical violence.” — The Untold Story of Domestic Violence by Ally Ang

This is perhaps not the most familiar narrative when it comes to domestic abuse. Too often we depict the abuser as a male who physically assaults his female partner. It does not always occur to us that abuse can take many different forms, in any kind of relationship, by anyone.

Get the help in your country.

Why ‘supernova’?

Supernovas occur when a large star is coming to the end of its life. Just as it’s nearing its end, the star explodes and gives birth to what looks like a new and brighter star where they dispel all the material of the old star out into space. This event can also help with the formation of new stars in the future. It is an incredibly important, wonderful and beautiful cosmic event. The word ‘nova’ means new, and this is a creation of something new and beautiful from something which was coming to the end of its life.

(It’s also not a complete coincidence that they are full of rainbow colours…)


Chayn

News and thoughts from our projects around the globe empowering women against abuse through technology.

Chayn

Written by

Chayn

An opensource gender and tech project that empowers women against violence & oppression. Producing tools, platforms & hacks for the world. 100% volunteer-run.

Chayn

Chayn

News and thoughts from our projects around the globe empowering women against abuse through technology.

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