In April, the Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living (IAC) wrote a blog post about believing survivors of sexual harassment and assault (see "Believing Survivors"). Just as victim blaming can prevent a survivor from coming forward, so too can his or her identity. For instance, members of the LGBTQ+ community experience sexual assault--as well as domestic violence, stalking, teen dating violence, and other crimes categorized as “intimate partner violence”--at equal and sometimes higher rates than the general population. Yet, they face barriers in navigating resources and even being taken seriously as survivors. This Pride Month, an easy way to support the LGBTQ+ community is to acknowledge those barriers and learn which resources assist survivors of intimate partner violence. 

 

The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the LGBTQ+ community is well-documented. According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 44 percent of lesbian women experienced sexual assault, physical violence, and/or stalking in their lifetime compared to 35 percent of heterosexual women. The rates are, respectively, 26 and 29 percent for gay and heterosexual men. For the transgender community, the rates of IPV are even more alarming. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that transgender individuals are 1.7 times more likely to experience IPV than cisgender individuals. 

 

Despite the data, members of the LGBTQ+ community can feel reluctant to seek help (and often don’t). Crimes classified as “intimate partner violence” are underreported, and surveys from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) show that only 25 percent of rape or sexual assault survivors reported to the police in 2018. The reporting rate is 47 percent for domestic violence. Though any survivor faces barriers in reporting these crimes--including the financial dependence of a survivor on a perpetrator and the fear of losing custody--the LGBTQ+ community faces additional barriers. 

 

One barrier that inhibits survivors from reporting is a history of misarrest, or the arrest of the victim rather than the perpetrator. A 2019 issue of the American Journal of Men’s Health shared one study in which 31 percent of LGBTQ+ respondents who interacted with police experienced misarrest. Misarrest often results from incorrectly identifying the more “masculine” partner as the aggressor or even arresting both partners because of the assumption that same-sex couples engage in “fairer” fights. Because of its frequency, misarrest consistently ranks first among reasons a survivor from the LGBTQ+ community hesitates to take that important first step: reporting IPV to law enforcement. 

 

Other barriers impact LGBTQ+ survivors at the institutional and personal level. Perhaps the most salient barriers that prevent survivors from reporting IPV or even disclosing these experiences to friends and family include access to domestic violence shelters that only serve women (or, if they do serve all genders, the perception that they’re not welcome); the fear of being outed; and thinking that reporting or disclosing IPV will further stigmatize same-sex relationships. LGBTQ+ youth, unfortunately, face even more challenges when they seek help for sexual assault or teen dating violence. Family members and peers who don’t support their identity, a lack of confidential resources for minors, and their dependence on guardians for transportation or obtaining a protective order can keep teens in dangerous relationships. 

 

These barriers are disheartening in that they incentivize survivors of IPV to suffer in silence and prevent them from accessing life-saving resources. However, individuals can make small choices to help eradicate these barriers. The easiest choice is to learn about LGBTQ+-friendly resources, but before people make the appropriate referrals, they have to believe survivors. When they abandon assumptions about IPV--namely, that these crimes are “women’s issues,” that same-sex couples can’t experience a power imbalance, and that aggressors are always the more “masculine” partner--it becomes feasible for LGBTQ+ survivors to disclose their experiences. 

 

After a disclosure of IPV, individuals can then share the community-based and national resources that assist LGBTQ+ survivors. For example, the Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living provides comprehensive services from advocates who are available 24/7 in-person or by phone (iacnvl.org or 907-452-2293). Advocates are confidential and will help create a “safety plan,” or a plan with emergency contacts, important items to pack, and other details that help survivors leave abusive relationships. They also help survivors with needs including housing, income, and medical services. Statewide and national LGBTQ+ resources include The Northwest Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse (nwnetwork.org/ and 206-568-7777); Identity, an Alaska organization that advances the community through advocacy, education, and connectivity (identityalaska.org/ and 907-929- 4528); RAINN’s sexual assault hotline (800-656-4673); and the Trans Lifeline (877-565-8860). 

 

For youth, The Door is an emergency shelter that houses anyone ages 12-18 experiencing homelessness, mental health crises, or who otherwise don’t feel safe at home (fairbanksyouthadvocates.org/ or 907-374-5678). Choosing Our Roots (COR) also houses youth and young adults (13-24) and helps establish long-term relationships with host families and community members (choosingourroots.org). COR currently serves the Kenai Peninsula, the MatSu Borough, and Anchorage but plans to expand to other Alaskan communities. National resources that provide LGBTQ+-specific services include the Trevor Project, a crisis intervention organization with staff available 24/7 by text, instant messaging, or call (1-866-488-7386). Youth who disclose sexual assault in the state of Alaska should know that service providers who are otherwise confidential must file a report with law enforcement and the Office of Children’s Services (OCS). However, youth have a choice in whether they disclose identifying information (such as name and age) that would assist service providers in filing a report. Service providers should share their status as mandatory reporters so that youth can make an informed decision about what they choose to disclose. 

 

Awareness months can often leave supporters wondering which actions will actually help the cause at hand and can even result in lost momentum when the month ends. However, anyone can make the easy transition from awareness to action when they validate survivors and make resource referrals for members of the LGBTQ+ community who experience intimate partner violence. June is almost over, but resources for LGBTQ+ survivors are available year round. 

For a more comprehensive description of the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community and resources, visit https://iacnvl.org/lgbtqi-community/