Sexual assault can happen to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
While there is little available information on the rates of sexual violence committed against LGBTQ persons in Singapore, international studies (e.g. 2019 Trades Union Congress study, 2021 SurvivorsUK study, 2021 Journal of Interpersonal Violence study, 2019 Association of American Universities study) indicate that LGBTQ persons, especially transgender people and bisexual women, have a higher risk of experiencing sexual violence than non-LGBTQ persons. In the United States, college students who identified as non-heterosexual experienced higher rates of non-consensual sexual contact than those who identified as heterosexual.*
Additionally, LGBTQ persons face unique barriers to disclosure and seeking support after sexual violence. These include:
- Stigma (including internalised stigma) and discrimination
- Possibility of being outed (which may have social, financial, career and other consequences)
- Myths that sexual assault can only happen to cisgender women and at the hands of cisgender men
- Lack of LGBTQ-supportive healthcare, support services and law enforcement—i.e. With staff trained to provide support for LGBTQ individuals. These services or professionals may even turn LGBTQ victim-survivors away.
Recounting experiences of assault, especially in situations that are themselves unsafe (e.g. if the responders are victim-blaming or react violently to disclosures of sexual orientation/gender identity), may potentially retraumatise LGBTQ victim-survivors. This may result in a higher risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidal ideation, amongst other adverse impacts on mental health.
If you are a LGBTQ person who has experienced sexual violence, SACC can provide emotional support and practical information about next steps. Get in touch with us now. Beyond seeking help from SACC, here are some other suggested actions. Please know too that what you experienced is not your fault.
* For example, 25.6% of bisexual students experienced non-consensual sexual contact as compared to 11.5% of heterosexual students. For non-heterosexual transgender, genderqueer and non-binary students, the rates of non-consensual sexual contact ranged from 19.5% to 23.8%.
What you can do if you, an LGBTQ person, have experienced sexual violence
- Get to a safe space. Safety is not just physical (e.g. being away from the perpetrator of sexual violence), but also emotional (e.g. being around people you know and trust).
- Seek social support from people whom you can trust. Find family members or friends you can trust to look out for you and support you after a traumatic incident. You may also consider contacting a support centre, such as SACC, for practical advice. You do not have to be alone on this journey. You are allowed to receive help in processing your emotions during these difficult times.
- Reach out to community organisations and/or access professional mental health support, should you face difficulties in deciding on your next steps (e.g. this list of community organisations compiled by Congregaytion). Support centre staff may help familiarise you with the available options before you make a decision. You do not have to share anything that you are uncomfortable sharing with them. Long-term therapy may also be helpful in working through a traumatic experience.
- Seek medical care with LGBTQ-affirming physicians. Your safety and health is important. Seek the appropriate treatment and support for internal and/or external injuries. This includes risks of sexually-transmitted infections (e.g. Pink Carpet offers anonymous HIV and STI testing for gay, bisexual and questioning/queer men). However, if you inform your healthcare provider that you had experienced an assault, they may have to make a police report due to legal obligations. Additionally, if you wish to receive a forensic medical examination, do note that: (i) a police report will have to be made first, (ii) it is ideal to do so within 72 hours of the assault (however, it is still possible to have a forensic medical examination done after the first 72 hours) and (iii) for the sake of evidence-gathering, it may be helpful to refrain from showering, bathing, eating, drinking, washing your hands or brushing your teeth until after you have had the exam. For more information on what to do in the first 72 hours after experiencing sexual violence, refer to this page here.
- Prioritise self-care after the experience, including physical self-care (e.g. getting good sleep, eating healthy and well, exercising and engaging in regular routines) and emotional self-care (engaging in fun, leisurely or relaxation activities, journaling and spending social time).
- Find LGBTQ-specific survivor support groups. A support group offers a safe space. Besides peer support, you may get practical and constructive information.
If an LGBTQ person you know discloses their experience of sexual violence to you, we recognise that it can sometimes be overwhelming. Here are some ways that you can help them.
Filing a report with the police
You may or may not feel comfortable reaching out to the police after experiencing sexual violence. That said, filing a report may allow some survivors to achieve some form of justice after assault.
Separately, a survivor may choose to apply for a Protection Order against the perpetrator.
If you’re interested in filing a report, you may wish to speak to a sexual assault support centre (e.g. SACC) to learn more about considerations surrounding lodging the police report.
This page was written by SGRainbow and AWARE in collaboration.
