A Matter of Consent: 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ People Sexually Assaulted in LGBTQ+ Venues

A UK study has revealed that an alarmingly high number of LGBTQ+ people have experienced sexual assault in spaces meant to be safe for the queer community.

The findings come from a survey conducted by LGBTQ+ health and well-being charity, LGBT HERO, highlighting a serious issue of consent violations in social settings.

Widespread Consent Violations

The study found that more than one in five LGBTQ+ people have been sexually assaulted in a club, bar, or LGBTQ+ venue. Additionally, 61% of those surveyed reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact in social settings.

“I was groped in a bar, went to security, and they shrugged me off. I had to leave to feel safe. That person still goes there every weekend,” one individual surveyed revealed.

Another shared: “I was at a Pride after-party when someone I barely knew kept touching my waist and pulling me closer, even after I told them to stop. I eventually had to leave because they wouldn’t take no for an answer. My friends told me to ‘lighten up’ and that it was ‘just flirting.’ But it wasn’t. It was harassment.”

Survey Findings Highlight the Scale of the Problem

The survey of over 600 LGBTQ+ people found:

• 61% had been touched sexually or intimately without consent in a social setting
• 21% had been sexually assaulted in an LGBTQ+ venue
• 74% disclosed their assault to someone, but only 19% reported it to the police
• 44% were assaulted by a stranger, while 31% said their perpetrator was a friend

Ian Howley, CEO of LGBT HERO, stressed the need for urgent action, saying, “LGBTQ+ spaces should be places of safety, but sexual assault and harassment are happening where we should feel protected.”

Calls for Action and Accountability

LGBT HERO has urged LGBTQ+ venues to take decisive action to tackle this crisis. Recommendations include implementing zero-tolerance policies on sexual harassment and assault and providing mandatory consent training for all venue staff.

It also called on venues to create visible reporting systems to support survivors and to encourage community accountability to challenge harmful behaviour.

“We all have a responsibility to create an environment where consent is respected and survivors feel supported,” Howley said. “Change isn’t just about awareness, it’s about action.”

LGBT HERO plans to launch a sexual assault and consent campaign, featuring awareness posters in LGBTQ+ venues and shareable videos on social media.