Over half (i.e. 53.4%) of transgender and diverse people had been sexually coerced.
This is according to a study – “Factors Associated with Transgender and Gender Diverse People’s Experience of Sexual Coercion, and Help-Seeking and Wellbeing Among Victims/Survivors: Results of the First Australian Trans and Gender Diverse Sexual Health Survey” by Paul L. Simpson, Denton Callander, Bridget Haire, et al – that appeared in LGBT Health.
The researchers wanted to examine factors associated with TGD people’s experience of sexual coercion, as well as the factors associated with help-seeking and wellbeing among victims/survivors.
The researchers analyzed cross-sectional data from the first Australian Trans and Gender Diverse Sexual Health Survey, conducted in 2018. Logistic regressions were undertaken to identify factors associated with sexual coercion, help-seeking, and wellbeing.
Key findings included:
- Of the sample of 1,448 participants, 53.4% had been sexually coerced.
- Sexual coercion was associated with older age, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, nonbinary gender, being presumed female gender at birth, currently living publicly some or all the time as their affirmed gender, having regular sex, and use of drugs to enhance or alter sexual experiences.
- Protective factors included having a higher income and access to gender affirming care.
- Help-seeking was reported among 49.5% of victims/survivors and was associated with having more trans friends.
- Wellbeing among victims/survivors was associated with being older, residing in regional/remote areas, having higher levels of education and annual income, being presumed female gender at birth, having stronger satisfaction with one’s sex life, and good health care access.
- Wellbeing was not associated with help-seeking.
Sadly, even if sexual coercion was prevalent among participants, help-seeking behavior was low, noted the researchers.
The researchers recommended identifying protective factors thate “underscore the importance of socioeconomic supports, access to health and gender affirming care, and peers.”
Also, “accessible peer-led and culturally safe preventive and trauma-focused supports should also be considered for trans people who experience sexual coercion.”
