Everyone deserves to be in healthy, loving relationships. It is important to be able to decipher what is healthy in a relationship and resources if you have been a victim of sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, or stalking.  Resources include LGBTQ+ friendly medical care, counseling, and advocacy.  

Research has found LGBTQ+ individuals experience sexual violations at similar or higher rates than individuals identifying as heterosexual (CDC, 2015).

LGBTQ+ victims/survivors often experience many feelings and barriers that prevent them from disclosing the abuse/assault they've experienced.  Many have the feeling they cannot be victims and should deal with their emotions and trauma on their own due to societal stereotypes about gender and sexual identity.

Common feelings/barriers:

• Challenges navigating supportive services.
• Distrust regarding service providers who may be homophobic.
• Fears about "outing" oneself and the potential consequences.
• Limited safe LGBTQ+ specific or LGBTQ+ friendly resources.
• Fear of retaliation by perpetrator, their community, and/or potential of hate crimes.
• Feeling alone or fearing others will judge or misunderstand you.

Did you know?

• Sexual assault is never the victim's fault, and no one ever deserves to be sexually assaulted.  Gender identity and/or sexual orientation never justifies any form of abuse.
• Every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. (RAINN, 2020)
• 21% of transgender college students have experienced sexual violence. (National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, 2020)
• 1 in 10 LGBTQ+ survivors of intimate partner violence have experienced sexual assault from their partner. (NCAVP, 2016)
• The majority of assaults and abuse are committed by someone the victim knows. (RAINN, 2020)

Remember:

• You are not alone.
• What happened to you was not your fault.
• There is hope and support for you.
• No one deserves to be sexually or phyiscally assaulted or abused.  Your gender identity and/or sexual orientation never justifies any assault or abuse against you.
• Take pride in who you are!

Shared with permission from Central MN Sexual Assault Center, 2021.

On-campus Resource:

Gender and Sexuality - QPLUS

Local Community Resources

Anna Marie’s Alliance (Domestic abuse intervention program and shelter)
P.O. Box 367
Saint Cloud, MN 56302
320-253-6900 (24-Hour Crisis Hotline)
320-251-7203 (Administrative Office)
www.annamaries.org

CentraCare Gender and Sexual Medicine Clinic
1900 CentraCare Circle, Suite 2375
St. Cloud, MN 56303
320-654-3633
centracare.com/services/lgbtq-medicine/

Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center
15 Riverside Drive
St. Cloud, MN 56304
320-251-4670
www.cmsac.org

Four County Crisis Response Team (Mental Health Crisis Services for Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and
Wright Counties)
320-253-5555 (24-Hour Crisis Hotline)

St. Cloud PRIDE
PO Box 5114
St. Cloud, MN 56302
320-249-5275
https://stcpride.org/

St. Cloud State University LGBT Resource Center
720 Fourth Ave S, Atwood Memorial Center 142
St. Cloud, MN 56301
320-306-5520Community Resources & Organizations
www.stcloudstate.edu/lgbt/

Seal Dwyer (LGBTQ+ trauma-informed and EMDR counseling services)
14 7th Ave N Ste 118
St. Cloud, MN 56303
320-296-2530
[email protected]
www.sealdwyer.com

Parents, Friends, and Families of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
P.O. Box 7641
St. Cloud, MN 56302
320-251-4966
www.pflag.org

Prism Mental Health LLC (Counseling focused on providing services to members of the LGBTQ+
community and their allies)
14 7th Avenue, #107
St. Cloud, MN 56303
320-217-9964
www.prismmentalhealth.com