Introduction
One of the best documented types of violence against transgendered people is sexual assault and rape. This is due in part because most studies on transgender people are linked to Departments of Public Health and focus on sexual behavior, such as condom use, unprotected sex, and anal sex, in order to draw connections with HIV/AIDS status and transmission. What becomes clear from surveys of trans-people is that there is a high prevalence of sexual assault and rape starting at a young age (R.L. Stotzer / Aggression and Violent Behavior 14 (2009).)
Sexual Assault on the LGB
The 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) found a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of sexual violence against LGB men and women. The numbers were as high as 40% of gay men, 47% of bisexual men, 46% of lesbian women, and 75% of bisexual women having been sexually victimized at some point in their lifetime; bisexual women were also at a significantly higher risk for rape (Journal of Family Strengths, Vol. 15 [2015], Iss. 1, Art. 3.) The NISVS also found higher rates of intimate partner victimization and stalking among lesbian and bisexual women and bisexual men. Another study found that hospital admissions for sexual assault were higher for LGBT individuals than for heterosexual individuals. In a survey conducted by the Anti-Violence Project of Massachusetts, 61% of the transgender respondents reported being the victim of a “hate crime,” which was defined as a crime committed against a transgender person because of his or her transgender status (Journal of Family Strengths.)
Transgender Sexual Assault
While all surveys have found evidence that sexual violence for transgender individuals is shockingly common, the proportion of transgender people reporting violence varies from survey to survey. However, the most common finding across surveys is that about 50% of transgender persons report unwanted sexual activity (Journal of Family Strengths.)
Not only is sexual violence occurring with a high level of frequency, but it starts at an early age. One study found that first rapes often occurred in the early teens: 14 years old for female to male and 15 years old for male to females. Another report found that young gender-nonconforming persons were particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, with the majority of incidents occurring before the age of 12. A study conducted in 2004 on high school-aged transgendered youth found that 86% of respondents had experienced some type of sexual violence, often perpetrated by other students, because of their gender identity (Journal of family strengths.)
These studies also provide insights into the motivation for sexual assaults, generating evidence that perpetrators are motivated by hatred or negative attitudes toward transgender people (R.L Stotzer.) We have to keep in mind though that in these questionnaires motivation of the perpetrator is determined by the victim and their perception of their victimization. In a 2005 study 13% of the 248 male to female and female to male participants reported being victims of sexual assault or rape. Forty three percent of those victims believed that their victimization was because of the perpetrators' homophobia, while another 35% of victims reported that it was the perpetrators' transphobia that led to the assault (R.L Stotzer.) A disappointing finding from self-report surveys is that the largest percent of perpetrators of sexual violence are people who are known to the victim, including partners and family members. R.L Stotzer states, “in a study of primary and casual sex partners... found that 16% of the 67 participating MTFs reported being forced to have sex by a casual sex partner, and 25% had been forced to have sex by their primary partner. Additional evidence for this trend comes from Xavier et al. (2007), who found that among those who had reported incidents of forced sex, 35% involved a person who lived in the participant's household at the time of the assault.” The 2005 study found that the most common relationship to the victim that the perpetrator had was as a familymember (39%), an acquaintance (35%), an intimate partner (29%), a stranger (25%), a date (20%), or an individual in a helping profession such as police or healthcare/social service providers (11%) (R.L Stotzer.)
Police and Transgender Sexual Assault
The transgender community interacting with authorities invites a certain level of possible victimization. “Only two studies directly ask about reporting sexual assault to the police. The Xavier et al. (2007) found that 83% of victims of sexual assaults did not report any of the incidences to the police. The FORGE (2005) report found a similar statistic — that only 9% of victims reported their sexual assaults to police, and that 47.5% did not tell anyone about their sexual assault”, says Stotzer. However, an interesting finding that might elucidate the lack of reporting to authorities was the fact that victims reported sexual violence perpetrated by police. Glaad states, “22% of respondents who have interacted with police reported harassment by police....Almost half of the respondents (46%) reported being uncomfortable seeking police assistance.”
Conclusion
Based on my findings I am blown away by the numbers I have come across. With about 50% of the trans community saying they have been a victim of sexual assault that shows the risks that they go through every day. In this day and age transgender is becoming much more well known and getting a lot more attention. I can see these numbers coming down when transgender is a part of the norm. It shouldn't have to be that way, but that is how I feel things will play out.
Transgender FAQ. (2013). Retrieved June 01, 2016, from http://www.glaad.org/transgender/transfaq
Rebecca L. Stotzer. (2009, January 24). Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14(6), 171-174. doi:10.1016/s1359-1789(09)00108-6
Felix, Shanna; Hoyle, Justin; Posick, Chad; Miller, Bryan Lee; and Stogner, John (2015) "Deconstructing the LGBT-Victimization Association: The Case of Sexual Assault and Alcohol-Related Problems," Journal of Family Strengths: Vol. 15: Iss. 1, Article 3. Available at: http://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/jfs/vol15/iss1/3