Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020

• NCJ Number: 304277
• Author(s): Jennifer L. Truman; Rachel E. Morgan
• Date Published: June 2022
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Publication; Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Abstract

This report presents data on the rate of violent victimization for persons who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender during the 4-year aggregate period of 2017 to 2020. The report provides demographic characteristics of victims of violent crimes, including sex, race or Hispanic origin, and age. It also presents data on the types of violent crimes involved and whether victims chose to report the victimization to police. Population estimates for persons age 16 or older by sexual orientation and gender identity are also provided.

Highlights:

During 2017 to 2020—

• The rate of violent victimization of lesbian or gay persons (43.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16 or older) was more than two times the rate for straight persons (19.0 per 1,000).
• The rate of violent victimization against transgender persons (51.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16 or older) was 2.5 times the rate among cisgender persons (20.5 per 1,000).
• About 58% of violent victimizations of lesbian or gay persons were reported to police.
• Domestic violence was eight times as high among bisexual persons (32.3 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16 or older) and more than twice as high among lesbian or gay persons (10.3 per 1,000) as it was among straight persons (4.2 per 1,000).