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If the perpetrator was also LGBTQ, survivors may not want to report it because of a wish to be seen as a model minority. Queer culture is already heavily stigmatized by wider society as being impure and dangerous, so some within our community may be reluctant to expose underlying issues and thus perpetuate these stereotypes. Homophobia and transphobia place an unfair burden on queer people to constantly pretend that there’s nothing wrong with our community, because suggesting otherwise would confirm the prejudices of people who wish to strip us of our humanity. To be seen as human, queer people must be perfect.
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“It’s important for me to help others understand just how difficult the aftermath can be for someone who is both queer and a person of color.”
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We can’t ignore the intersectional identities that affect people’s decision to seek resources and justice. Some survivors may not report because of distrust of authority figures due to the prevalence of police brutality towards black, brown, and queer bodies. In a 2011 survey of 6,450 trans and gender nonconforming Americans, 46 percent of respondents reported being uncomfortable seeking police assistance. Moreover, 2 percent of those who interacted with police reported being sexually assaulted by police, with higher percentages for respondents who were black or Hispanic.
What can Harvard do to address some of these issues? First off, our resources for sexual assault should be more LGBTQ-inclusive and explicitly state that queer people are welcome. Additionally, queer resources on campus should include more information on sexual assault and more intentionally publicize that this information is available.
I also encourage everyone to be more mindful of the ways that we talk about sexual assault. It’s not just a women’s issue, but something that can affect anyone and disproportionately harms LGBTQ people. Thinking more critically about the causes of sexual assault and who it affects won’t completely eliminate it from our campus, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Becina J. Ganther ’20 is a Crimson Editorial editor in Leverett House. Her column appears on alternate Tuesdays.