RAINN—the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network—firmly believes that people from all walks of life and from every community deserve compassion and support to overcome the trauma of sexual assault. While LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to advocate for equal rights in a number of political and civic forums, RAINN provides a safe and accepting space with specially trained teams dedicated to assisting victims and their loved ones as they navigate the effects of sexual violence and assault. Resources, including the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673), provide LGBTQIA+ survivors with free, confidential, 24/7 assistance in English and Spanish.
These services are crucial in a social climate where LGBTQIA+ people are even more likely to experience violence and sexual abuse than their non-LGBTQIA+ counterparts. "Some studies have shown that the risk of sexual assault is higher for LGBTQ+ populations than for an average person," says Scott Berkowitz, RAINN's president and founder. According to RAINN, 21% of transgender, genderqueer, and nonconforming college students experience sexual assault.
RAINN supports LGBTQIA+ individuals with sexual violence awareness, prevention, and response programs, including supporting survivors as they confront their sexual abuse trauma and initiate the healing process. This includes all survivors regardless of "race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or transgender status), age, and disability." RAINN strongly believes that no one should be denied access to resources, support, or justice because of their sexual orientation.
To this end, individuals can reach out to RAINN or the LGBT National Help Center for assistance. RAINN understands that LGBTQIA+ individuals may also face obstacles when it comes to legal and medical access and strives to provide support and resources in light of these challenges. "Our staff gets additional training in helping people from that community," says Berkowitz. "We wouldn't be doing our job unless we were really making sure that we're reaching everyone who needs us and making sure that our staff have had the training they need to appropriately serve them and help them."
RAINN's Scott Berkowitz: 'We Try to Make Sure Our Messaging Is Always Inclusive'
RAINN also offers resources for the individuals to whom victims first disclose their experiences, helping to guide them to be a support system that listens to and validates the victim's feelings. Looking to uplift survivors of sexual violence in the LGBTQIA+ community, RAINN promotes allyship between people from all walks of life. The nonprofit recommends that people seek out resources and fill gaps in understanding, rather than making assumptions, in order to be able to support others who have been through traumatic experiences. "We try to make sure that our messaging is always inclusive and that it's going out through channels that are going to reach the LGBTQ+ community," RAINN President Scott Berkowitz states.
Unfortunately, many of the same barriers to reporting apply to the LGBTQIA+, leaving two out of three crimes unreported. In addition to fear of retaliation and not believing they'll receive help if they speak up, LGBTQIA+ survivors face additional obstacles when it comes to achieving justice. According to RAINN, some LGBTQIA+ victims fear disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity as part of the process. Concerns regarding retaliation and discrimination inhibit these victims from coming forward, with nearly 70% citing threats from the perpetrator. These perceptions can also shape criminal intent: "Criminals make calculations about whether they're going to get away with their crime, and younger LBGTQ+ people, particularly if they are not yet out to their family or peers, are more vulnerable to sexual violence," Berkowitz explains. "So if there's a perception that someone's going to be less likely to report, that's going to increase the risk." With a new victim of sexual abuse affected every 68 seconds, resources like RAINN continue to be a critical means of support, healing, and justice for everyone concerned.
