Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Victims

According to The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, approximately 8.8 million people in the United States are gay, lesbian, or bisexual.⁹¹ This is a rough estimate because definitions of sexual orientation and behavior are not standardized. For example, some individuals who engage in same-sex behavior or intimacy do not identify as gay or lesbian and some individuals' gender identity or gender expression may not conform easily to female or male identities.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning/queer (LGBTQ) community is diverse and includes individuals who may or may not be visibly identifiable as such to those around them. When LGBTQ individuals disclose their sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex, they may suffer severe forms of discrimination and violence. For example, there have been numerous situations in which transgender persons have disclosed their sex and gender identity and have been sexually assaulted, seriously injured, and even murdered.

This section includes common terms and resources.