What is rape? Rape is a serious problem in our society Rape is not about sex—it’s about power and control. > 44% of lesbians and 61% of bisexual women Rape is a violent crime in which sex is used as a experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by weapon to dehumanize another person. The state of an intimate partner, compared to 35% of straight Indiana legally defines rape as: women Knowingly or intentionally having sexual intercourse > 26% of gay men and 37% of bisexual men Information and resources with another person or knowingly and intentionally experience rape, physical violence, or stalking for responding to causing another person to perform or submit to other by an intimate partner, compared to 29% of sexual conduct (IC 35-31.5-2-221.5) when: straight men > The other person is compelled by force or imminent > 46% of bisexual women have been raped, compared threat of force; to 17% of straight women and 13% of lesbians RAPE AMONG > The other person is unaware that the sexual > 22% of bisexual women have been raped by an intercourse or other sexual conduct is occurring; or intimate partner, compared to 9% of straight LGBTQ+ > The other person is so mentally disabled or deficient women that consent to sexual intercourse or other sexual > 40% of gay men and 47% of bisexual men have conduct cannot be given (IC-35-42-4-1) experienced sexual violence other than rape, POPULATIONS compared to 21% of straight men Who is at risk? > 47% of transgender people are sexually assaulted Anyone can be raped. at some point in their lifetime.

People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, (National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, transgender, queer/questioning, or anything other than 2010 & 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey) cisgender/heterosexual, are at heightened risk of sexual violence—both in the workplace and at home. LGBTQ+ individuals experience sexual violence in a number of ways ranging from gender bullying in schools and the workplace, hate crimes, street harassment, sexual harassment, and . Since LGBTQ+ individuals do not always have the same rights and resources as cisgender/heterosexual individuals, LGBTQ+ victims of sexual assault also have less access to laws and institutions that protect them if they choose to report. Reporting may mean having to come out as LGBTQ+ - an option that is not always possible or safe for a victim. Coming out can, unfortunately, lead to more harassment and abuse from law enforcement, medical professionals, and even family members and friends. Due to this fear of judgment and additional violence, LGBTQ+ individuals are less likely to report. No icesaht.org matter who the victim or perpetrator is, or when and where the rape takes place, rape should always be taken seriously—this begins with believing the victim. This project was supported by the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. RAPE AMONG LGBTQ+ POPULATIONS

The facts What to do if you are raped How you may feel > 21% of TGQN (transgender, genderqueer, non- Safety first Rape is traumatic. Victims of rape may experience conforming) college students have been sexually > Go to a safe place—Your safety is top priority. a variety of traumatic responses that present in assaulted, compared to 18% of non-TGQN females, If you are in danger or need medical care, a number of ways. These may include, but are not and 4% of non-TGQN males (Cantor, et. al. 2015). call 911. If you need to call a trusted friend or loved limited to: guilt, shame, depression, increased startle > Lesbian and bisexual women may be up to 3 times one for support and comfort, do so. Both physical response/jitteriness, anxiety, irritability, anger, as likely as heterosexual women to report having safety and emotional safety are important during suicidal thoughts, isolation, self-harm, difficulty been sexually assaulted during their lifetime. Gay this time. trusting people, difficulty making decisions, sexual men may be up to 15 times as likely as heterosexual dysfunction, substance abuse, and being flooded and You have options men to report having been sexually assaulted during overwhelmed with recollections of the trauma. > their lifetime (Rothman, Exner and Baughman, 2011). Call a sexual assault service provider. If there is a sexual assault service provider in your area > According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Healing and recovery they will be able to assist you and answer any and Prevention (CDC) 2010 National Intimate questions you may have about your options. They Healing and recovery take time, and the process is Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, approximately may speak with an advocate anonymously. For different for everyone. Rape Crisis Centers provide 1 in 8 lesbians (13.1%), nearly half of bisexual women more information please check out our website at specially trained staff who will listen and help. To (46.1%), and 1 in 6 heterosexual women (17.4%) icesaht.org. connect with a in your area or have been raped in their lifetime. Nearly half of access their crisis line, please check out our website at > Call the police. You may contact the police to file bisexual men (47.4%), 4 in 10 gay men (40.2%), and icesaht.org. If there is no center in your community, a police report. By filing a police report, you will 1 in 5 heterosexual men (20.8%) have experienced call the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network be creating a formal, legal record of the crime that sexual violence other than rape in their lifetime. (RAINN) at 1-800-656-4673 for 24/7 confidential was committed against you. If the police are called > 30% of lesbian women report having experienced support. to the scene, you are under no obligation to file a sexual assault or rape by another woman (not formal report. necessarily an intimate partner) (Renzetti, 1992). > Receive medical attention. You may not think Call for 24/7 confidential support: > 15% of gay men living with a male intimate partner medical care is necessary if you do not have report being raped, assaulted or stalked by a male 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) any visible injuries, but it is important that you cohabitant (CDC, 1999). receive care for possible internal injuries, sexually Online Chat for 24/7 confidential support: > LGBTQ+ individuals may experience abuse during transmitted infections, or pregnancy. By going http://online.rainn.org/ their childhood. They may be abused by parents or to the hospital, you can also receive a medical others who are intolerant of homosexuality. They forensic exam (often referred to as a “rape kit”) Additional resources may be targeted for sexual abuse by adults that which will aid in the collection and preservation of > recognize and ostracize them as "different." physical evidence as a result of the assault. LGBT National Help Center National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564) or • Over 11% of gay and lesbian youth report being Important note: You can consent to a medical National Youth Talkline:1-800-246-7743 physically attacked by family members (Hetrick- examination and the collection of evidence and still Online Peer Support Chat: Martin Institute, 1988). withhold consent to release the evidence to the police. https://www.glbthotline.org/peer-chat.html or • 42% of homeless youth, many of whom have run If you later decide to file a police report and participate Weekly Youth Chatrooms: away from home to escape violence, self-­identify in the prosecution of your assailant, you can give your https://www.glbthotline.org/youthchatrooms.html as gay/lesbian (Victim Services, 1991). consent at that time to release the evidence to the police. > • The cost of these exams is covered by the state of Indiana Youth Group: Indiana through the Crime Victims Compensation. https://www.indianayouthgroup.org/ A victim of sexual assault is not to pay out of pocket > The Trevor Project: costs for the medical forensic exam or have the exam https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ billed to their private health insurance. > Indy Pride: https://indypride.org