We believe that all Kentuckians deserve to live a life free from violence, including transgender Kentuckians. Everyone should be treated fairly and equally under the law, and protecting LGBTQIA+ Kentuckians helps ensure that they have the same opportunity to fully participate in life in the Commonwealth.
Sexual assault happens in all communities, but we know that young people, girls, LGBTQ+ people, and black, brown, and indigenous people are experiencing violence at higher rates and it impacts their health outcomes across their lives.
LGBTQ+ people are often stigmatized as other. This societal stigma not only makes LGBTQ+ people more vulnerable to experiencing violence, but it can also make it more difficult for LGBTQ+ survivors to seek services.
At all of Kentucky’s 13 regional rape crisis centers, we strive to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed care to all survivors.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) has created a fact sheet on injustice in the LGBTQ community that helps contextualize our need to speak out, especially in this moment where proposed legislation is harmful to populations we know are already at an increased risk for sexual violence.
From Fact Sheet on Injustice in the LGBTQ community by NSVRC
Recent statistics showcase a long-standing trend — LGBT people are still four times more likely to experience violence in their life.
The risk of sexual violence is also increased for trans people; 50% of transgender people have been sexually assaulted at least once in their life.
Due to the stress and threat of discrimination, LGBTQIA+ individuals are twice as likely to experience mental health issues in their life, and have more than double the rate of depression than the heterosexual population. Suicide is a leading cause of death for LGBTQIA+ people ages 10-24, and across their lifespan, LGBTQIA+ people attempt suicide at a disproportionate rate. LGBTQIA+ youth are more than five times more likely to die by suicide than their heterosexual peers.
LGBTQIA+ individuals experience trauma at a higher rate than their heteronormative counterparts. Forty-six percent of homeless LGBTQIA+ youth ran away because of they were disowned by their family due to their sexual orientation or gender identity; 43% were kicked out of the house by their parents; and 32% faced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse at home.
For more information on bills impacting LGBTQIA+ individuals in the 2023 Kentucky Legislative Session, visit the Fairness Campaign Bill Tracker.
Here is additional information from RAINN for LGBT+ survivors.
