Overview
Assault happens when one person attacks someone else with the purpose of causing bodily harm. The Office for Victims of Crime writes: “Physical violence is one of the most common forms of trauma experienced by the general population. The impact of violent crime is devastating to victims, their family members, loved ones, and the community.”
While physical assault against trans and nonbinary adults might be less common than other forms of crime and discrimination community members face, they are likely to leave lasting impacts on someone’s mental health and wellbeing.
Trans Specific Dynamics
Trans and nonbinary people may experience physical assault specifically because they are perceived as trans, or for other reasons (race/ethnicity, perceived disability, etc.). It’s important to recognize how overlapping factors may impact someone’s safety in public spaces.
Trans and nonbinary people engaged in sex work and working in the underground/street economy may be at increased risk for physical violence, along with trans and nonbinary people experiencing homelessness. When facing systemic discrimination (for example, not being able to find a job or housing), anti-trans discrimination contributes to the risk of violence.
As with other forms of violence and crime, many trans and nonbinary survivors may be hesitant to go to law enforcement for help because they anticipate being discriminated against or mistreated or even experiencing further violence. Even after experiencing an assault, not all survivors will want to access carceral supports. It’s essential to ask a survivor what kinds of support they need after an attack (e.g.: healthcare advocacy, access to resources, learning what options are available, making a safety plan, etc.) rather than assuming they want to go through criminal justice system.
Physical assaults may be accompanied by other forms of violence and anti-trans discrimination, and a survivor may not know why they were attacked.
Key Tips for Service Providers
- Recognize the overlapping ways that anti-trans bias may put trans and nonbinary people at increased risk for violence.
- Acknowledge that physical assault can be part of a larger pattern of anti-trans attitudes and behavior in our culture, leading to disproportionate impacts on trans communities.
- Find out what individual survivors want and need in terms of support.
- Develop safety plans with survivors.
- Recognize the unique impacts of physical violence on undocumented trans/nonbinary people and sex workers, and work to address disparate rates of violence.
- Advocate for policies that decrease risk factors for anti-trans violence (e.g., decriminalizing sex work, limiting access to firearms, anti-discrimination policies in the workplace/housing/etc.).
Case Examples
Shawn (he/him) is a multiracial transgender man who was arrested on the assumption that he was selling drugs. While being detained, Shawn was physically assaulted by a police officer. Although he was later released, Shawn has injuries related to this assault that he needs medical care for. He worries about accessing healthcare without insurance, and that he may be mistreated because of his gender identity.
This assault by law enforcement has left a lasting impact on Shawn, both in the chronic physical symptoms he continues to experience, and the post-traumatic stress he has developed as a result. Although he hasn’t sought formal services after this assault, Shawn receives emotional support from his community, along with help with tasks around the house as he recovers from his injuries.
Discussion questions:
- What are the individual and community impacts of the assault Shawn experienced?
- What needs might this survivor have that are unmet?
- What kinds of resources could you connect Shawn to?
- How might you seek justice with a client who does not believe that law enforcement and justice systems are on their side?
- In your unique role, how might you advocate for this survivor?
Statistics
In the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, 12% of respondents were physically attacked in the past year, and 9% believed they were attacked because of being transgender.[i]
These attacks had a lasting impact on victims; respondents who were physically attacked in the past year (59%) were more likely to be currently experiencing serious psychological distress than those who were not physically attacked in the past year (36%) (USTS). In addition, “lifetime suicide attempts were also higher for respondents who were physically attacked in the past year (65%)” (USTS).[ii]
While interacting with law enforcement who knew the respondent was transgender, 4% of respondents were physically attacked by an officer. Among those who interacted with police who thought they were doing sex work or while doing sex work, 18% said an officer physically attacked them. (USTS)[iii]
Certain demographic factors increase the likelihood of a trans or nonbinary person experiencing physical assault. These include:
- Working in the underground/street economy: 41% experienced physical assault.[iv]
- Being undocumented: 24% of respondents who were undocumented experienced physical assault.[v]
- Race/ethnicity: American Indian (25%), Middle Eastern (25%), and multiracial (19%) were more likely to report being physically attacked in the past year.[vi]
- Homelessness: among those who stayed in a homeless shelter in the past year, 19% were physically attacked.[vii]
[i] James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf
[ii] James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf
[iii] James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf
[iv] James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf
[v] James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf
[vi] James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf
[vii] James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf