Everyone deserves compassionate, community-specific support. Unfortunately, many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, LGBTQ+ people are nearly four times more likely than non-LGBTQ+ people to experience violent victimization, including rape, sexual assault, and aggravated or simple assault.

RAINN runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline at online.rainn.org and 800.656.HOPE to chat one-on-one or to speak with a trained RAINN support specialist, 24/7. The service is completely anonymous and confidential—we will never ask you for any information that would identify who you are. You will never be denied services at RAINN due to your sexual orientation. You can share as much or as little as you like with us.

Identifying as a survivor and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community is a critical element of one’s journey. To be able to express yourself, identify yourself, and accept your identity is a part of healing and becoming one with yourself. You are not alone and RAINN is here for you every step of the way.

Quotes are below from fellow LGBTQ Speakers Bureau members to share messages of hope and inspiration.

• “Representation really matters,” Jordan Masciangelo agreed. “Having queer youth able to see and hear folks who look like them and have had experiences like them give them a sense of belonging where they can trust to go to places to get help. Normalizing queerness in general is important and noticing that this stuff happens disproportionately to us, is also just as important.”
• Samantha Lynn shared,”No matter how I was presenting myself—as androgynous and completely uninterested—it doesn’t factor into predators. They are going to do what they want to do. That was a huge eye opener for me.”
• “I did not know that one of the hosts had previously been in a same-sex domestic violence relationship. He shared it in the interview as well and it was mind blowing for me. I was speechless. More people came to me about their experiences and once I started speaking, people opened their doors.” - April Jackson
• “Working through trauma and recovering from abuse for me involved disclosure, connecting, fellowship and at the right time, service to others. I have also learned that self-care is the best care, and helped me live life to the fullest.” - Josh Lamont
• “The rise of the online hotline has made a huge difference for me. It gives me a lot more control over how much my trans identity comes up in conversation.” - Ethan Levine

Listed below are additional resources for the LGBTQ+ community at RAINN.

• The LGBTQ+ National Hotline provides a toll-free hotline for LGBTQ+ people to ask questions about counseling, resources, and peer support. Contact 1.888.843.4564 or visit the hotline’s website for more information.
• LGBTQ Survivors of Sexual Violence on RAINN’s website which offers support around how to respond to a LGBTQ+ survivor and a list of LGBTQ+ survivor stories.
• This public service announcement shows how RAINN supports all survivors of abuse.

RAINN and the National Sexual Assault Hotline are here for all survivors regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or transgender status), age, and disability. Anyone affected by sexual assault, whether it happened to you or someone you care about, can find support on the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE. You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.