This study examined whether sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) in the United States encounter disproportionate rates of victimization compared with their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts.
The study of this issue is difficult because nationally representative victimization data have not included victims’ sexual orientation or gender identity. The National Crime Victimization Survey, the nation’s primary source of representative information on criminal victimization, began documenting sexual orientation and gender identity in 2016 and released data publicly for the first time in 2019. Based on an analysis of these data, the current study found that SGMs disproportionately are victims across a variety of crimes. The rate of violent victimization for SGMs is 71.1 victimizations per 1,000 people compared with 19.2 victimizations per 1,000 people for those who are not SGMs. SGMs are 2.7 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime than non-SGMs. These findings indicate the importance of further considering sexual orientation and gender identity in victimization and interventions. (publisher abstract modified)