Gender and Sexual Orientation Based Violence

Part Two: Addressing Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence

For part two of our LGBTQIA series, we will be discussing sexual assault and sexual violence in the LGBTQIA community. Sexual violence happens in every demographic and within every community. The rates of sexual violence within the LGBTQIA community are at similar, if not higher rates (Human Rights Campaign HRC, 2020). One study completed by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects (NCAVP), suggests that one in ten LGBTQIA survivors has experienced a sexual assault from their partners. When looking specifically at transgender people and bisexual women, about 50% will experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime (HRC, 2020).
As with intimate partner violence, LGBTQIA victims/survivors often face stigma, barriers, marginalization, and violence motivated by homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia. Sometimes a sexual assault is used as a form of hate-motivated violence (HRC, 2020). Additionally, society places stereotypes on the LGBTQIA community, such as “this community is hypersexualized”, “they are deviant”, or “their relationships are not serious and won’t last”. Stereotypes, stigma, and discrimination often keep victims/survivors silent and can create an environment of victim blaming or shame surrounding the sexual violence.

THE STATS
Some quick facts from the National Coalition against Domestic Violence (NCADV) and the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV):

• 43.8% of lesbian women and 61.1% of bisexual women have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime, compared to 35% of heterosexual women.
• 26% of gay men and 37.3% of bisexual men have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime, compared to 29% of heterosexual men.
• Transgender victims are more likely to experience intimate partner violence in public, compared to those who do not identify as transgender.
• LGBTQIA Black/African American victims are more likely to experience physical intimate partner violence, compared to those who do not identify as Black/African American.
• 45% of victims do not report the violence experienced because they believe reporting will not help them.

A few other facts from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey:

• 48% of bisexual women who are rape survivors experienced their first rape between the ages of 11-17.
• 40% of gay men have experienced sexual violence other than rape, compared to 21% of heterosexual men.

SUPPORT
What can you do if someone you know has been sexually assaulted?

• Believe them. If they are coming to you with this information, it means that they are trusting you to believe and support them.
• Let them know that it was not their fault.
• Let them know that what they tell you is confidential (unless it is a mandatory reporting situation, and if so, let them know your limitations on confidentiality).
• Don’t pressure them to give you details. What they have experienced is incredibly traumatic and by pressuring them to give you details can be retraumatizing. You are not law enforcement and it’s not your job to investigate.
• Contact us! We can provide you with resources and information on how to support the person.

What can you do if you have been sexually assaulted?

• What happened to you is not your fault. Nothing you did provoked sexual violence.
• Reach out to someone you trust for support. Having someone in your corner to support you can be beneficial.
• Regardless of what anyone you should do; you have the choice and the power to make the decision if you want to report or not.
• You do not have to have a police report to have a SAFE exam completed.
• If you would like support, you can always contact us. We can help you with counseling, resources, and advocacy. You can also contact our 24/7 hotline for confidential support, and you can remain anonymous if you would like.  

                             You are not alone. We are here for you.

Some additional resources:
LGBT National Help Center
National Hotline (1-888-843-4564) or National Youth Talkline (1-800-246-7743)
https://www.glbthotline.org/
Forge (Serves Transgender and gender non-conforming survivors of domestic and sexual violence)
https://forge-forward.org/
National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
 
 
Reference Links:
http://www.mmgconnect.com/projects/userfiles/File/DCE-STOP_NOW/NCADV_LGBT_Fact_Sheet.pdf
https://ncadv.org/blog/posts/domestic-violence-and-the-lgbtq-community
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/566c7f0c2399a3bdabb57553/t/566c9be29cadb6bf7efc8e1e/1449958370563/It-Takes-A-Village-People-Web-Version.pdf