Sexual Violence among LGBQ Community College Students: A Comparison with their Heterosexual Peers

Although community colleges enroll nearly half of the undergraduate population in the U.S., scarce research exists on the sexual violence perpetrated against their student body, especially those students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ). Findings from an ARC3 (Administrator-Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative) Climate Survey, which was administered at seven community colleges in a Northeastern state, indicate high rates of sexual violence reported by community college students, particularly among students who identify as LGBQ, compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Almost two-thirds (63.6%) of non-heterosexual participants reported some form of sexual violence since they enrolled at their community college, with more than 35% of this demographic reporting two or more forms of sexual violence during that same time period. Additionally, LGBQ students who reported sexual violence had significantly lower well-being scores and perceptions of campus climate (e.g., perceptions of safety).