Understanding Risks: LGBTQ+ Adults and Sexual Violence

Sexual violence faced by LGBTQ+ adults has become a hot topic in research. But how do we make sense of all the studies out there? This review looked at over 10, 000 papers and picked the best ones to figure out what makes LGBTQ+ adults more likely to experience sexual violence. The second part of this review focuses on four key risk factors: alcohol and drug use, prejudice like homophobia and transphobia, so-called "risky" sexual behaviors, and childhood sexual abuse. While alcohol and drug use seemed to play a role, the exact cause isn't always clear.

Researchers sometimes blamed victims by seeing prejudice as an individual problem. Some studies labeled LGBTQ+ sex as "risky, " missing the unique needs of these communities. Many studies also focused too much on childhood sexual abuse, ignoring bigger societal issues. Overall, most studies looked at individual behaviors, which can lead to blaming victims. So, this review suggests we should look beyond individual risks, stop labeling LGBTQ+ people as "risky, " and consider how different experiences intersect and affect each other.

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