Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) victims face the same issues as all other victims of sexual assault. The effects of these issues can be compounded by insensitivity, homophobia and additional issues such as those listed below. 

• The GLBT victim who chooses to report must face the possibility of dealing with homophobia and insensitivity form law enforcement and hospital personnel.
• If a GLBT has not already come out they may fear their orientation will be publicly announced after reporting a sexual assault.
• As GLBT victims have few, if any, support systems they are less likely to have needed support during their recovery.
• These victims may feel as if they are being punished for their lifestyle or sexuality and unfortunately that is sometimes true.
• For a gay male, same sex assault is more likely to be physically violent and include forcible sodomy and object penetration, all of which can lead to severe injuries.
• A lesbian victim of sexual assault must now face a fear of having been impregnated by her offender. This may previously have been of so little concern to her that she is not even sure of where she is at in her menstrual cycle.
• Lesbians generally have a very low risk of contracting a STD. However, a lesbian who has been sexually assaulted must now face the possibility of several STD's including HIV/AIDS.
• For a lesbian who may never have had intercourse with a man, vaginal penetration during a sexual assault could be particularly painful. 

We offer the same services and assurance of confidentiality to GLBT victims as we do to all victims of sexual assault. Maintaining connections to groups and individuals who support the GLBT community allows us to keep up to date with issues concerning this community. these same connections allow us to refer GLBT clients to organizations that will provide necessary support systems. Most importantly we strive to have our agency be a safe place for all people, regardless of age, race, religion or sexual orientation.

For more information on Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays of the Fredericksburg/Rappahannock Area please visit our web site at: http://pflag.communitypoint.org/

"Information on this page was gathered in part from the VAASA Volunteer Manual, Second Edition, Specific Populations/Cultural Issues."