LGBT Violence Prevention Project
Cultural Differences | STDs and HIV | Resources | Tufts LGBT Center
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) victims of violence share most of the same questions and issues that other victims of violence face: where to get medical help, how (or whether) to report a crime, how to deal with the feelings associated with violence, etc.
However, LGBT people may also face additional issues, primarily because of homophobia. For example, a gay man might be hesitant to get help after being battered by his partner because he fears the police or doctors will be homophobic, because the perpetrator is well-known in the small gay community and the victim feels he won't be supported, or because reporting the abuse would force him to come out.
Those of us who don't fit into what is considered the "dominate" or "mainstream" U.S. culture (because of our nationality, race, sexual orientation, disability, etc.) may experience barriers to getting help. For this reason, the Campus Violence Prevention Project provides information and resources specific to particular populations.
It is important to keep in mind that violence in LGBT relationships is at its core about the same issue at play in straight relationships—the perpetrator's desire for power and control over the victim. Many of the resources, warning signs, and strategies for reducing risk are the same. Sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking occur in LGBT populations at roughly the same rate as in heterosexual ones. However, LGBT people have the added danger of being victims of violence motivated by homophobia—perpetrated by those specifically targeting LGBT people for attack. Hate crime rates are especially high among transgender populations.
This web site provides information and resources related to LGBT people and violence. For other information and resources related to LGBT identities, go to the LGBT Center website.
Is this you...?
- "I didn't think a woman could rape, but..."
- "I'm trans, and I'm afraid to get help because..."
- "My ex keeps IM-ing me..."
- "In my country, you don't talk about these things."
- "Am I being harassed because I'm a woman or because I'm a dyke?"
- "I'm concerned about my HIV risk and there's no way I can talk to my partner about it." (links to HIV page)