Barriers to Legal and Social Services by Queer Victims of IPV and Sexual Assault

• In Event: The Need for Queer Victimology

Abstract

Queer individuals experience intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault at higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts (National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey; Walters et al. 2013). There are barriers to accessing legal and social services after victimization for all victims, but that may be exaggerated among LGBTQ individuals. For example, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (2013), queer individuals who face IPV victimization often report experiences of police misconduct after the victimization, including excessive force and unjustified arrests through the use of dual arrests. Specifically, 58% of transgender respondents who had experiences with law enforcement reported ‘harassment, abuse, or other mistreatment by the police’ (National Center for Transgender Equality, 2018). Furthermore, reports of discrimination by service providers are associated with delayed service and reduced the likelihood of future help-seeking behaviors among LGBTQ populations (Jaffee et al. 2016). Additionally, when queer individuals did receive formal help for IPV victimization, many reported that services did not address their needs (Edwards et al. 2015). Specifically for trans women seeking help, one study found that many were denied services based on their gender identity. When trans people are granted access to housing services, they are 3.5 times more likely to experience hate crimes while in shelters compared to cisgender men and women (NCAVP 2015). Because of their treatment by legal and social services, queer victims of IPV and sexual assault are less likely to engage in formal help-seeking behaviors. “Respondents to the U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS), 57% said they would be somewhat or very uncomfortable seeking help from police when they are victims of violence due to concerns about transgender-related discrimination” (James et al., 2016).

This presentation addresses best practices by legal and social service practitioners in addressing the help-seeking behaviors and needs of queer victims of IPV and sexual assault.

Author

• Sarah Rogers, University of South Carolina