LGBTQ+ Survivor Support

Affirming Care

Onslow Victims Center provides free and confidential support for LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, and abuse.

You deserve support that respects who you are, how you identify, and what safety looks like for you. If you are being hurt, threatened, controlled, exploited, outed, or made to feel unsafe, help is available.

OVC advocates can help with safety planning, crisis support, hospital advocacy, court support, shelter screening, and referrals to additional resources when needed.

you deserve support

Resources & Information for LGBTQ+ Survivors

Why This Support Matters

LGBTQ+ survivors experience domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, harassment, and abuse at serious rates. These statistics do not define every survivor’s experience, but they show why affirming, confidential support matters. Everyone deserves safety, support, and services that respect who they are.

Domestic Violence and Relationship Abuse

The CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey found that lifetime intimate partner violence involving contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking was reported by 56.3% of lesbian women, 69.3% of bisexual women, 47.7% of gay men, and 46.1% of bisexual men. This data comes from the CDC’s 2016/2017 Report on Victimization by Sexual Identity, which remains one of the most direct national sources for LGBTQ-specific intimate partner violence data.

Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence

The same CDC report found high rates of sexual violence among LGBTQ+ people. Lifetime contact sexual violence was reported by 59.9% of lesbian women, 79.3% of bisexual women, 59.8% of gay men, and 56.4% of bisexual men. Unwanted sexual contact was reported by 54.2% of lesbian women, 72.0% of bisexual women, 47.7% of gay men, and 47.1% of bisexual men.

Transgender and Nonbinary Survivors

The 2022 U.S. Trans Survey, the largest survey of transgender people in the United States, included responses from 92,329 binary and nonbinary transgender people. Its safety findings show that many transgender people continue to face harassment and violence connected to gender identity or expression. In the past 12 months, 30% of respondents reported verbal harassment, 39% reported online harassment, and 3% reported being physically attacked because of their gender identity or expression. The survey also found that 11% of adult respondents who grew up with family, guardians, or foster parents said a family member was violent toward them because they were transgender, and 8% said they were kicked out of the house because they were transgender.

Human Trafficking and Exploitation

Polaris notes that LGBTQ+ youth may face increased trafficking vulnerability when they lack safe shelter, social support, or family acceptance. Nearly 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+, and homelessness may be connected to family rejection, prior abuse or neglect, bullying, discrimination, or social marginalization. Youth without safe shelter and support are at higher risk of trafficking and exploitation, and traffickers may exploit basic needs, isolation, or the need for safety and belonging.

Polaris also explains that traffickers may offer food, clothing, shelter, or a sense of family to create dependency and control. This is why safe, affirming support matters. When people can access help without fear of judgment, outing, discrimination, or being blamed, they are more likely to reach out and stay connected to support.

Important Note

If someone under 18 is involved in a commercial sex act, it is considered human trafficking under federal law, even if force, fraud, or coercion is not present. The Office for Victims of Crime states that any person under 18 engaged in commercial sex acts is a victim of human trafficking, regardless of force, fraud, or coercion.

Source Notes

CDC: The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 Report on Victimization by Sexual Identity

Used for LGBTQ-specific domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and unwanted sexual contact statistics.

2022 U.S. Trans Survey: Safety Findings from the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey

Used for updated transgender and nonbinary safety data, including harassment, physical attack, family violence, and being kicked out because of being transgender.

Polaris: Sex Trafficking and LGBTQ+ Youth and related LGBTQ+ youth trafficking materials

Used for trafficking vulnerability, homelessness, family rejection, lack of safe shelter, and traffickers exploiting basic needs or the need for support.

Office for Victims of Crime: Human Trafficking Overview

Used for the legal note that minors involved in commercial sex are considered trafficking victims regardless of force, fraud, or coercion.

When Power and Control Show Up in LGBTQ+ Relationships

Domestic violence is about power and control. In LGBTQ+ relationships, that control may include threats, isolation, emotional abuse, physical harm, sexual violence, financial control, stalking, or using someone’s identity against them.

For LGBTQ+ survivors, this may also look like threatening to out someone, misgendering them on purpose, controlling gender affirming care, using fear of discrimination to keep them silent, or telling them they will not be believed because of who they are.

You do not have to prove that what happened was “bad enough” to ask for help. If something feels unsafe, controlling, or harmful, you can reach out.

Support After Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is never the survivor’s fault. LGBTQ+ survivors deserve care that is respectful, affirming, and centered on their choices.

Sexual violence can include any sexual contact, pressure, coercion, exploitation, or activity that happens without clear and freely given consent. It can also include threats or control connected to someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, body, relationship, or personal history.

OVC advocates can help survivors talk through options at their own pace. Support may include hospital advocacy, safety planning, emotional support, and referrals. You do not have to report to law enforcement to call and speak with an advocate.

Human Trafficking & Exploitation

Human trafficking can include sex trafficking, labor trafficking, or exploitation through force, fraud, or coercion. LGBTQ+ survivors may be targeted when they are isolated, unsafe at home, rejected by family, experiencing homelessness, or needing housing, money, transportation, protection, or community.

Trafficking may look like someone:

• Pressuring or forcing a person to trade sex for money, housing, food, transportation, substances, or safety

• Controlling someone’s phone, ID, money, movement, work, or social media

• Using threats, shame, violence, debt, or fear to keep someone from leaving

• Offering love, family, protection, or support, then using that connection to exploit them

• Making someone work without fair pay, freedom, or safe conditions

If something feels unsafe or exploitative, support is available. You can call OVC to talk with an advocate.

Free & Confidential Support

OVC advocates can help LGBTQ+ survivors with:

• Crisis support and safety planning

• Hospital advocacy after sexual assault, domestic violence, or human trafficking

• Court advocacy and protective order support

• Shelter screening and community referrals

• Emotional support and help understanding options

You do not have to be ready to leave, report, or make a decision before reaching out. You can call just to talk through what is happening.

Call Our 24/7 Crisis Line

LGBTQ+ Affirming and Survivor Support Resources

The Network/La Red

Provides a 24-hour hotline with emotional support, referrals, safety planning, and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ people and people in kink or polyamorous communities experiencing partner abuse. Call (800) 832-1901.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Free and confidential domestic violence support 24/7. Call (800) 799-7233, chat online, or text START to 88788.

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline

Free, confidential, 24/7 sexual assault support in English and Spanish. Call (800) 656-4673, chat online, or text HOPE to 64673.

National Human Trafficking Hotline

Confidential support for potential sex trafficking or labor trafficking. Call (888) 373-7888, text 233733, or chat online. Phone support is available 24/7 in more than 200 languages.

The Trevor Project

Free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people by phone, chat, or text. Call (866) 488-7386 or text START to 678678.

LGBT National Help Center

Provides free and confidential peer support, information, and local resource connection for LGBTQ+ people. Call the LGBT National Hotline at (888) 843-4564.

Call The Network/La Red

Call The National Domestic Violence Hotline

Call RAINN

Call The National Human Trafficking Hotline

Call The Trevor Project

Call The LGBT National Help Center

Other Local and State LGBTQ+ Resources

These resources may be helpful for LGBTQ+ community connection, education, advocacy, healthcare navigation, family support, and local or statewide resource information. They are not a replacement for crisis support. If you are experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, or abuse, you can call Onslow Victims Center’s 24/7 Crisis Line at (910) 347-4000.