New research from LGBT Hero has revealed alarming numbers about sexual assault in LGBTQIA venues
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGE BY GETTY IMAGES VIA CANVA
According to new research, one in five of LGBTQIA people in the UK have been sexually assaulted in an LGBTQIA venue. The report was written by the health and wellbeing charity LGBT Hero and revealed alarming numbers about the extent to which sexual assault has been able to happen in LGBTQIA spaces.
The data in the report came from a survey of 600 LGBTQIA people. 21% of respondents said they had been sexually assaulted in an LGBTQIA space. This number rose to 61% when the question asked if they had been “touched sexually or intimately without consent”.
Of this number, 44% said they were assaulted by a stranger, whilst 31% said it was done by a friend. Only 19% reported the incident to the police, but 74% did say they told someone.
This research is part of a wider campaign LGBT Hero is doing. The organisation has also distributed posters to venues across the UK, run social media ads and released a three-part podcast series to raise awareness about sexual assault.
The campaign directly calls on LGBTQIA venues to do more to stop sexual assault and similar incidents happening in their venue. They have pushed venues to implement a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment and assault, to ensure all staff take consent training, and to create visible reporting systems to “encourage community accountability” and “challenge harmful behaviour”.
Ian Howley, CEO of LGBT Hero, said: “LGBTQ+ spaces should be places of safety, but sexual assault and harassment are happening where we should feel protected. We have an opportunity to change this together. We all have a responsibility to create an environment where consent is respected and survivors feel supported. Change isn’t just about awareness, it’s about action.”
LGBT Hero has a sexual assault and consent support directory with detailed information on how to contact the right organisation for you if you need help. You can access it here.
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