Sexual Violence is a Queer Issue

Being a 20 year old woman in college, the topic of sexual violence and rape culture in society is constantly spoken about, whether it be in conversations between my mother and I or talks I have with my friends whose experiences are similar to mine. We are always told, “walk in groups” and “don’t walk around at night” and the classic, “when you go to a party don’t take a drink from anyone, you never know what is in there.” All of these phrases are extremely frustrating, frightening, and exhausted every weekend as I get ready to spend time with my friends or venture off campus. However, I have come to recognize that the way I view sexual assault and violence comes from a strictly heterosexual female perspective meaning it only happens to straight women by straight men. At least that is how it is portrayed in the media and the way our society as a whole focuses on the issue. But, it is important to ask what about the individuals who are survivors and victims of sexual violence and who are not heterosexual females? What about the LGBTQ members, men and women alike, who do not conform to the sexual binary, that receive this abuse in a very real and traumatizing way?

            Sexual violence is a large injustice facing the LGBTQ community that is often silenced and swept under the rug because of society’s inability to recognize the dignity of the members of this marginalized group. In the book Queer (In)Justice by Mogel, Ritchie, and Whitlock, the issue of sexual violence in the LGBTQ community is analyzed specifically in regards to the United States criminal justice system. The authors explain that, “sexual violence is one of the principal weapons of policing and punishing perceived sexual deviance and gender nonconformity on the outside… it’s wielded to an even greater effect in the highly controlled and violent environment of modern prisons.” LGBTQ members in prison are essentially punished for their sexualities and are demonized in society and the structure of the prison system by guards and other inmates. This is a result of these people not conforming to traditional gender constructs thus making them much more susceptible to violent sexual offenses such as rape and assault. These populations are targeted specifically making the issue a queer issue rather than just an issue that is faced only by heterosexual females. This not only occurs in prisons and causes an injustice there, but in many places in the sector of life outside of the justice system queer individuals face this threat as well.

            In an article titled, “This Happens: Sexual Assault Between Queer Women” by a lesbian poet named Leah Horlick, she exposes that sexual violence is in fact a queer issue demonstrates that many ignore it or do not think is valid. Horlick bravely shares her story of sexual assault and how she was able to become a survivor. The issue is an extreme injustice facing the community because, as Horlick argues, it is extremely invalidated by society and victim blaming is even more prevalent of a problem as non conforming genders and sexualities are deemed as deserving of the abuse that they receive, especially if it is same-sex perpetuated sexual violence. She explains, “Coming out as a survivor of queer sexual violence was, and is, more difficult that I ever thought coming out as a lesbian would be. I couldn’t find anyone else telling their story. Where were our lesbian feminist foremothers? Where were Audre Lorde of Adrienne Rich when I needed them?” This complex social justice issue continues to perpetuate violence because of the invisibility LGBTQ community members have when it comes to the public learning about the issue. Too often is sexual violence viewed as a straight issue, when it should be viewed just as equally as a queer issue.

           

            After understanding how violence occurs then among the LGBTQ community there are many things that can be done to remedy the injustice. The first of course being that society recognizes sexual violence as a queer issue that affects men and women who are a part of the queer community. After this visibility can be achieved  we as a society can combat the idea that not only do heterosexual lives matter but homosexual and queer lives matter just as much.  More funding should also be put into programs for all victims of sexual abuse so that they may be able to receive similar support. In a Huffington Post article by two queer activists, Sue Kerr and Ian Finkenbinder, they call upon the importance of funding uniquely queer support resources for victims of sexual violence and abuse.  They explain that, “we live in a society where funding for anti-sexual-violence programs was almost derailed because of  the inclusion of provisions for LGBTQ survivors.” By acknowledging the issue and creating uniquely queer spaces of outreach for these individuals the damages caused by these traumatic forms of abuse can begin to heal. Although this all seems basic, currently in society this is the level that we are standing on. Until sexual abuse is no longer just a heterosexual issue many more will suffer at the hands of society demonizing their sexuality. Programs should be funded and made to educate the community about sexual violence, but specifically how it affects the LGBTQ members of society. By mandating strict policies on educational curriculum in schools to include the narratives of queer individuals in the lesson plan we can extend what it means when we say “not anymore.”