Sexual violence: A snapshot of those harming LGBT+ people

We asked over 1000 LGBT+ people in the UK about their experiences of sexual violence.

This report is part of a series exploring LGBT+ sexual violence survivors’ experiences. Other reports in this series focus on sexual violence as a conversion practice, sexual abuse experiences as children or young people, and the criminal justice system and support services.

Key findings:

• High proportions of LGBT+ survey respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment (88%) and sexual assault (77%) since the age of 18.
• The vast majority of LGBT+ survivors surveyed indicated that they were sexually abused by someone known to them (79% of 755 who experienced sexual violence since the age of 18).
• Around 1 in 6 LGBT+ survey respondents reported being sexually abused by a stranger (17%). Interview participants also described being subjected to sexual violence by strangers or people not known to them.
• Survey respondents were asked about the gender and sexual orientation of the person who perpetrated the most impactful experience of sexual violence against them:

– The vast majority (76%) of LGBT+ survivors surveyed indicated that their most significant experience of sexual violence was perpetrated by a man/men.

– Most (54%) of the LGBT+ survivors surveyed reported that the orientation of the perpetrator of their most impactful sexual violence experience was heterosexual.

– There was some evidence of LGBT+ people experiencing sexual violence perpetrated by another LGB+ person/people (21%).

– Around 1 in 6 (15%) LGBT+ survivors surveyed reported that their most impactful experience of sexual violence was perpetrated by a woman/women.

– Many interview participants, as well as many survey respondents, described being subjected to sexual violence perpetrated by a man/ men in the context of intimate relationships but also sexual assault and harassment in public or workplace settings.

– Interview participants, as well as some survey respondents, described being subjected to sexual violence perpetrated by a woman/women, often in the context of intimate relationships.