At The Rowan Center, we support all survivors of sexual violence. That means we respond to the specific and personal needs of each victim, group, or circumstance. One of the important things we learn is how to respond to the unique challenges of sexual assault for the LGBTQ community.
Members of the LGBTQ community often face higher rates of poverty and stigmatization, making them more vulnerable to many forms of assault. These unique challenges also create more barriers to reporting assault and getting justice following an incident.
LGBTQ survivors are often discriminated against because of their identities, causing them to worry about seeking help from official institutions like the police, hospitals, and court systems.
Affirming advocate services can be incredibly important for LGBTQ survivors. An advocate makes sure the survivor’s needs are met, helping them feel safe in intimidating situations. With an advocate, survivors know what to expect throughout the reporting process, have help setting and enforcing boundaries, and are empowered to make the right decisions for themselves. They are able to walk through threatening or intimidating next steps knowing that they are not alone.
Other unique challenges for the LGBTQ community
Homophobia still exists in the dominant culture and can lead to sexually-based hate crimes. Internalized shame and homophobia also contribute to higher rates of intimate partner violence in LGBTQ relationships.
And if a survivor is not yet out, it may be more difficult for them to report or disclose their assault for fear of having to explain still-private elements of their identity.
Gay, lesbian, and transgender people face unique challenges of sexual assault, but organizations like The Rowan Center work to support survivors, meet their individual needs, and change the culture of sexual violence. We are proud to be one of many advocacy services that provide LGBTQ-affirming services to victims and survivors, and we are committed to continued learning to be increasingly better advocates for our LGBTQ neighbors.
To learn more about this data, see the Williams Institute at UCLA, NRSVC, and the Human Rights Coalition.
To learn more about The Rowan Center’s work, visit therowancenter.org. If you need immediate assistance, support, or care, call our 24/7 confidential hotline at 203-329-2929, text 888-999-5545, or chat with an advocate now.