Since arriving in Sydney eight years ago, trans woman Kalypso Finbar recalls many traumatic encounters with men but the worst one she had was with someone she met online.
"I wasn't really interested in him so he basically threatened me," the Nigerian-born 29-year-old said.
"He made verbal threats that he was going to find me and basically bash me and there's nothing I can do about it because I'm a 'tranny' and that got me shook."
She's not alone.
A new study from Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety found trans women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are almost 20 per cent more likely to suffer multiple instances of sexual harassment than other women.
They are also twice as likely to experience being sexually assaulted 10 or more times than other women.
Report author Jane Ussher from Western Sydney University said trans women from CALD backgrounds are more at risk "because of their multiple intersecting identities".
"[It's] because they are women, because they are trans, because they are a woman of colour and many of whom were bisexual, queer or lesbian so these different multiple identities put them at high risk of sexual violence," she said.
"What we know is that it's at the point of gender transitioning and gender affirmation that women become at risk of sexual violence."
CALD trans women were more likely to suffer sexual harassment and assault at the hands of strangers compared to other women.
They were also more likely than other women to experience instances of sexual harassment or assault in public spaces.
When it came to seeking support following sexual violence, more trans women of colour reported having to rely on themselves to cope compared with other women who reported higher levels of support from friends, partners and police.
"What was really disturbing in the research was that the trans women of colour were almost invisible and marginalised in the support services and the legal recognition around sexual violence," Professor Ussher said.
"Sometimes they weren't believed, sometimes they were ridiculed and it just really wasn't taken seriously."
Peta Friend, patron and founder of Trans Pride Australia said they are often overlooked in national statistics and the discussion around sexual violence against women.
Greater awareness and recognition of the community are key to changing the situation according to Ms Friend.
"We need to turn to leaders in the transgender diverse community and get us involved in programs where it makes it accessible for these marginalised people to come forward and feel safe in these environments."
Ms Finbar hopes shining a light on issues facing trans women of colour will lead to a more inclusive society.
"There are so many shades of people and there are so many creeds of people who are walking around who deserve as much recognition or as much attention as the next person."
