Combating sexual violence starts with reporting

I usually write this feature from a lighthearted perspective – there’s nothing I love more than looking at kink in everyday American culture and sexual LGBT trends and happenings nationally and around the world. But I’d like to turn toward something very serious: sexual assault.

Sexual assault is troublingly common – statistics from RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, report that someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted every two minutes. Oftentimes we disregard the issue, too uncomfortable or too afraid to entertain the idea that someone in our organization, social circle or family is a victim – or perpetrator. And statistics show that the LGBT population is disproportionately targeted for sexual violence.

Recently a friend of mine – who does not wish to be named – told me her story about being raped as a teenager by a family friend in her hometown. For the sake of this article I’ll refer to her as Sara.

Sara was already facing social injustices on a daily basis – high school was especially hard for her, coming to terms with her own sexuality and feeling completely alone. It got worse when she was raped.

“People always talk about hitting rock bottom,” Sara said, “but I don’t think many people can truly attest to that. I know I hit rock bottom after what happened to me.”

Like many people who suffer sexual violence, Sara lost control of her life, turning to drugs and alcohol to keep the nightmares of her attacker’s face at bay. After years of keeping the experience a secret, she found relief in sexual assault support groups, she said.

“It’s a breath of fresh air to realize you’re not alone in something like this,” Sara said, “but devastating to see and know that this happens to people just like me.”

According to the National Anti-Violence Project’s 2012 Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV–Affected Hate Violence, 45 percent of LGBT victims and survivors of sexual assault identified as gay men and 21 percent identified as lesbians. The report revealed that the trans community is one of the most disproportionately–affected identity groups for sexual violence.

In 2012, the Colorado Anti-Violence Program reported a 143 percent increase in hate violence toward transgender individuals in Colorado; more than 22 percent of total violence reports in the state of Colorado are made up of transgender victims and survivors.

There are resources to help people cope with the trauma of sexual violence, particularly for the LGBT community. CAVP strives to build safety and justice for LGBT and queer individuals, offering a 24-hour hotline, case management and advocacy training. Sara found her place in similar outreach efforts.

“I tried to do it alone and found that it wasn’t worth it,” Sara said. “My peers and counselors showed me how to express what I was feeling through writing. What started out as a journal filled with pages of the dark shit I went through is transforming nicely into a book now.”

Sara said she hopes her writing will one day encourage others to speak up about violence inflicted on them or others.

CAVP’s Advocacy Director Sandyha Luther urges victims of violence, especially of sexual violence, to call the organization’s statewide 24-hour hotline providing resources for healing and justice, community support, referrals and advocacy to access shelters, and other services like support for filing police reports or complaints.

That way not only can the CAVP team counsel victims but document the depth and extent of violence within and against the LGBT community, Luther said. “This documentation we get from the calls of survivors of violence and from the families of friends of victims of violence helps us understand the needs of the community, advocate, and train service providers for LGBTQ–inclusive and LGBTQ–safe services,” she said.

Sexual assault is something very real in the LGBT community, and by opening up our eyes and addressing the problem, we can strive for a safer and more LGBTQ–inclusive future.

Find more statistics and resources on sexual assault from CAVP at coavp.org/news-updates.