Interpersonal Violence in LGBTQ+ Communities

It's All Connected is a discussion series exploring the intersections of interpersonal violence prevention. In honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, we sat down with Charley Burton to discuss interpersonal violence prevention in the transgender community.

Within the LGBTQ community, transgender people and bisexual women face the most alarming rates of sexual violence. Among both of these populations, sexual violence begins early, often during childhood. The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey found that 47%, nearly half, of transgender people are sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime.

2015 Transgender Survey

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Among people of color, American Indian (65%), multiracial (59%), Middle Eastern (58%) and Black (53%) respondents of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey were most likely to have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Nearly 61% of bisexual women experience sexual violence by an intimate partner, compared to 35% straight women (CDC, 2021).

At the age of 50 Charley discovered his authentic self and started his transition. As one of the founding board members of Black Trans Men, Charley is always willing to step in wherever he can. In Charlottesville, Charley is member of many boards including PFLAG of The Blue Ridge, Cville Pride, and board chair for Diversity in Recovery. Charley stays active in these groups, always keeping and wanting these boards to recognize the needs of black transmen.

He is currently working towards exposing black transmen about our mental health and wellbeing, elder transmen being more recognized in our community and revamping the binder program to help those in need of binder services.

We are grateful for Charley sharing his wisdom with us. Thank you, Charley!