Violence intervention, prevention and support services are being urged to be alert to the specific needs and experiences of LGBTQI people following a landmark study on the impact of sexual violence.
Almost 3200 LGBTQI people participated in the national survey on experiences of sexual violence, making it the largest of its kind in Australia and internationally.
Most of those who took part were cisgender women (41.1 per cent) followed by cisgender men (30.9 per cent) and people who identified as non-binary (18 per cent).
More than 400 respondents identified themselves as First Nations Australians.
The study found unwanted sexual requests or comments were common (74.1 per cent), with cisgender men reporting the lowest rates.
Transgender women and men were more likely to report being targeted due to their gender or sexuality.
More than half of those surveyed said they had experienced sexual violence in childhood and adulthood.
The majority of people who disclosed said the experience had been before they were 18 or more than five years ago.
The findings suggested many LGBTQI people were carrying a significant burden of sexual violence, often for a long time, lead investigator Michael Salter said.
"This is important from a service provision point of view … people have been carrying something with them for a long time and need sensitivity to that," he said.
There were also elevated incidents in the previous 12 months among cisgender men and transgender women surveyed.
"This suggests people who engage sexually with cisgender men in their adult life are more at risk of sexual violence," Professor Salter said.
Fewer than 40 per cent of cisgender men disclosed their experiences of sexual violence.
However, those who did were most satisfied with the response compared to other members of the LGBTQI community.
The survey also highlighted the proactive stance of most LGBTQI people in intervening in situations of sexual risk and danger to others.
This strongly suggested that community norms were a pivotal resource to include in future sexual violence prevention efforts.
The survey indicated policymakers needed to do more to ensure that sexual violence intervention and prevention measures acknowledged people were part of the LGBTQI community, Prof Salter said.
"We also need to hold space for young people figuring out their gender identity and sexual orientation," he said.
"We currently don't do enough for kids who experience sexual violence if we don't support them therapeutically and they accumulate compounding traumas."
Lifeline 13 11 14
Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
