TRANSforming Inclusion Practices: Trans People’s Experiences of Sexual Violence

<p dir="ltr">Recent Australian and international research has shown that trans people of all genders including<br>trans men, trans women and non-binary people (hereto referred to as trans) experience high rates<br>of sexual violence (e.g., Callander et al, 2019; Messinger, Guadalupe-Diaz, & Kurdyla, 2022;<br>Ussher et al, 2020). However, overall, our knowledge of trans people’s experiences in the Australian<br>context remains limited, with prior research drawing on small numbers of participants or asking a<br>limited number of questions about participants’ experiences. Our research aimed to build on the<br>important contributions of these studies by providing in-depth insights into trans people’s experiences<br>of sexual violence. Trans people’s experiences of sexual violence are situated within a context of<br>cisgenderism and heteronormativity. This means that trans people may have unique experiences of sexual<br>violence and particular support needs.<br>In 2021–22, ACON in conjunction with researchers from the University of Melbourne and University of<br>Tasmania undertook the first comprehensive survey of NSW-based LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of<br>sexual violence. In this briefing paper, we document the specific experiences of trans participants who<br>experienced sexual violence. Having sufficient trans participants has enabled us to scope their<br>unique experiences of sexual violence. We outline the nature and impacts of the sexual violence<br>experienced by trans participants, their experiences of disclosure and help-seeking, and what helped<br>participants in healing from this violence. In closing, we outline suggestions for improving service<br>provision and community capacity to ensure that trans survivors are appropriately supported, and<br>for working towards the prevention of this violence.</p>