Responding to The Well
June 13, 2025
Queer and trans people are typically at higher risk of experiencing sexual assault, harassment, and violence. This violence can take many forms, and while it is often perpetrated by straight and cisgender folks, that is not exclusively the case. Unfortunately, violence and harassment also happen within the community, and within spaces that are expected to be “safe.” In the past year, former staff and patrons of London’s only queer bar, The Well, have courageously disclosed multiple instances of sexual violence that they’ve experienced at the venue. We have been frustrated with the establishment’s defensive response and continuous denial of any occurrences of violence.
The Queers Against team have been working to keep our community safer by advocating for reform, as well as a boycott of The Well until changes are made. But power never goes quietly, and The Well and their supporters have been quite vocal in their attempts to discredit survivors. Most recently, an online petition in support of The Well has surfaced. The content and posts associated with this petition are full of rape myths, as well as DARVO (denial, attacking, and reversal of victim and offender) tactics. We have no desire to amplify the messaging of this petition, but we do feel a strong calling to respond and stand loudly with Queers Against.
Anova believes survivors. We know that police investigations, HR complaints, and tribunal proceedings, (or a lack thereof) are not indicators of accuracy or innocence. We know that it is incredibly difficult to disclose violence and violation. We know that many survivors do not report at all, and that many choose to remain anonymous while doing so. We know that this does not make their experiences any less valid or their trauma any less real. We also know that society has an idea of what a “perfect victim” looks and acts like, and that the farther away from that image a real survivor is, the more likely they are to be discredited before they even speak. We know that survivors are often not believed when they tell the truth, and that male and gender-diverse survivors face even more scrutiny and disbelief.
Finally, we know that people with power—regardless of orientation—can and do use that power to silence those with less. In an age of information overload, it can be difficult for people to know what to believe. That is why we issue this reminder, and invite you to join us to believe survivors.
Believe survivors who don’t fit the narrative of what a survivor is “supposed” to look like.
Believe survivors who are going up against people and systems with far more power and resources.
Believe survivors who report their experiences to friends, to HR, to police, to Human Rights Tribunals, and believe survivors who don’t.
Both online and off-, support survivors out loud.
Listen to their experiences, even when it means accepting something hard about someone or somewhere you thought you knew.
We can guarantee that there are no special benefits to the Survivor’s Club—just an unasked-for lifetime membership of trauma. There is very little motivation for individuals to lie about experiencing violence, and mountains of motivation for businesses and people in power to lie about committing it.
Believe survivors, always.