Violent Victimization Against Persons Who Identified as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender

• In Event: National Crime Victimization Survey Users’ Group

Abstract

Sexual orientation and gender identity have been identified in research as correlates of victimization, and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 explicitly bars discrimination based on actual or perceived SOGI status, ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons have access to key services. In July, 2016, the Bureau of Justice Statistics began collecting sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) on the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). This presentation will provide the first federal estimates on the violent victimization of LGBT persons age 16 or older based on data from the NCVS. During the 4-year aggregate period of 2017-20, violent victimization was significantly higher for persons age 16 or older who self-identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual compared to those persons who identified as straight. The rate of violence against transgender persons was 2.5 times higher than the rate for cisgender persons. This presentation will also examine patterns in reporting to police and additional demographic characteristics.

Authors

• Jennifer Truman, Bureau of Justice Statistics

• Rachel E. Morgan, Bureau of Justice Statistics, USDOJ