Examining Campus-Level Sexual Assault Policy and Procedures for Sexual and Gender Minority Students

Despite numerous studies that show sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations are at an increased risk of experiencing sexual assault, very little headway has been made in understanding where they seek help from after the fact. Disengagement with the experiences of SGM student victims of sexual assault could not only disempower them but also undermine the efficacy of campus-level response policies. This study is aimed at understanding the most common reasons SGM students do not report their sexual assault to campus officials. 20 SGM student survivors of sexual assault were interviewed about their beliefs around reporting, campus resources, and beliefs on the role their universities play in bringing them justice Participants expressed concerns about the validity of their experiences within cis-heteronormative university settings, skepticism toward institutional authority, and the absence of relevant support services tailored to their needs. These findings suggest that universities need to improve the inclusivity and visibility of support services for SGM survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault.