LGBTQ Resources
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LGBTQ | Bias Motivated Sexual Assault Resources | Non-bias/Same Sex Sexual Assault Resources | Resources Specific to Transgender Victims/Survivors
LGBTQ
Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, Transgender and Questioning Victims of Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is a term that encompasses many types of violence on a continuum ranging from catcalls and other types of harassing behaviors to rape and incest. All sexual violence is motivated by a need for power and control and is never the victim’s fault. Defining Sexual Violence.
Sexual assault can happen to anyone regardless of gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation or identity. Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender (LGBTQ) people experience the same continuum of sexual violence as the general population. Approximately ten percent of hate crimes against gay men and lesbians include sexual assault (Comstock, Violence Against lesbians and Gay Men, 1991). This number may be higher as it can sometimes be difficult for victims to determine if the motivation for the sexual assault was based on their sexual orientation or their gender.
Statistics show that a great majority of sexual assaults are committed by men. However, anyone is capable of assaulting a person of either gender. In general, incidents of sexual assault involving LGBTQ people are very similar to those that heterosexuals experience. Victim Impact There are certain aspects of sexual assault, however, that are unique in the experiences of LGBTQ people who experience sexual assault. These include:
- Fear of being “outed”, and losing control of privacy and information people have about them, and suffering negative consequences because of it
- Feeling that reporting will reinforce negative stereotypes
- Fear they are betraying the community by “accusing” another LGBT person of sexual assault.
- Guilt and self-blame (which are common feelings for victims) may lead to questioning one’s sexual identity and sexuality.
- Feeling ashamed and believing the assault was a punishment for not following society’s accepted definition of sexuality and gender roles.
- Victims who are LGBTQ may not receive support from support from the LGBT community itself and/or the community at large.
When addressing sexual assault in the LGBTQ community, it is important to recognize that there are two categories of assault that occur. They are “Bias-Motivated” assaults (hate crimes) and “Non-Bias Motivated” assaults (same sex, relationship). The first type is an attack on a representative of a class of people who are often vilified and marginalized; the second is an attack unrelated to sexual preference.
Included below is a list of links to other services for LGBTQ victims/survivors. These links are split into the two categories named above.
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Bias Motivated Sexual Assault Resources
http://www.lambda.org – support and hate crime reporting
http://www.ncavp.org – resources and information
http://www.cuav.org – resources and information
http://www.avp.org – resources and information
Non-bias/Same Sex Sexual Assault Resources
http://www.nwnetwork.org - resources and information
http://www.umich.edu/~sapac/info/assault-lgbt.html - information and support
http://www.shs.ilstu.edu/sexual/glbt/ - resources and information
http://www.sfrcc.org/same gender.html – resources and information
Resources Specific to Transgender Victims/Survivors
http://www.survivorproject.org/ – information and support
http://www.thenetworklared.org – information and support
http://www.transthrive.org – Information, support and resources
RVAP is available to all victim/survivors for support, advocacy, information and referral. We also provide support and information services to significant others, friends and family of victim/survivors.
The local 24 hour Rape Crisis Line is 319-335-6000 or 1-800-228-1625. The statewide Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline (24 hrs.) is 1-800-284-7821.
