|
|
|
LGBTQ Survivors of Sexual Violence
Same-sex sexual violence
Same-sex sexual violence may include (but is not limited to) forced vaginal or anal penetration, forced oral sex, forced touching, or any additional form of forced sexual activity.
Same-sex sexual assault may occur on a date, between friends, partners or strangers. It does not have to occur between two people of the same sex who both identify as gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgendered.
Survivors of same-sex sexual violence have to deal with concerns about homophobic responses from others and beliefs that same-sex partners cannot sexually assault each other. LGBTQ survivors of sexual assault may remain silent for fear of exposing their community to negative reactions and stereotypes.
Intimate Partner Violence
Intimate Partner Violence is pattern of abusive behaviors used by one individual intended to exert power and control over another individual in the context of an intimate relationship. This can happen in all kinds of relationship – between people who identify as straight, gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgendered.
- LGBTQ people experience violence within their intimate relationships at about the same rates as heterosexuals
30% of lesbian report having experienced sexual assault or rape by another woman (not necessarily an intimate partner)
15% of men living with a male intimate partner report being raped, assaulted or stalked by a male cohabitant
- The proportion of IPHs committed by same-sex partners was much greater for males than females.
- About 3% of females experiencing nonfatal intimate partner violence were victimized by reported that the offender was another female. About 16% of males reported that the offender was another male.
Hate or bias crimes
Hate or bias crimes are criminal offense committed against a person or property and are motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, ethnic/national origin group, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation group. (Even if the offender was mistaken in his/her perception that the victim was a member of the group he or she was acting against, the offense is still a bias crime because the offender was motivated, in whole or in part, by bias against the group.)
Estimates are that 10% of hate crimes against members of the LGBTQ communities involve sexual assault. This figure may be higher, because individuals who were assaulted may be unsure if they were targeted because of their sexual orientation.*
*UMM Violence Prevention Center
Heightened homophobia in the United States places LGBTQ individuals at a greater risk for sexual assaults by strangers. Perpetrators frequently use sexual assaults against LGBTQ individuals (and individuals perceived to be LGBTQ) to punish and humiliate them. One example of this occurs when lesbian and bisexual women are targeted for sexual violence by people believing that they can “change” a woman’s sexual orientation.
*from WavawNet - Washington Violence Against Women Network
Facing sexual violence in the LGBTQ community
- Survivors who are not “out” may find sharing and/or reporting the sexual violence unsafe or impossible.
- In small communities, fear of other’s skepticism and/or people “taking sides” may cause the survivor to keep silent.
Guilt and self-blame (common symptoms of all survivors) may lead survivors to question their sexual identity and sexuality.
- Internalized homophobia may further complicate the trauma of sexual violence for survivors who may more readily blame themselves.
- Gay/bi male survivors may fear being ignored and/or rejected as overly sensitive, which may keep them from reporting sexual violence.
- Gay/bi male survivors may fear stereotypes that they are promiscuous and invited the sexual violence.
- Lesbian/bi women survivors may face being ignored or having their claims discarded if their attacker is a female because women are rarely seen as sexual perpetrators.
|
