The impact of COVID-19 on campus sexual and relationship violence against LGBTQ+ communities

LGBTQ+ (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, queer) people are often left out of campus sexual and relationship violence (SRV) prevention efforts despite experiencing higher rates of SRV. The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated these disparities and showcased the adaptability of LGBTQ+ antiviolence personnel to changing circumstances. To learn from innovation by LGBTQ+ campus antiviolence personnel during the early stages of the pandemic, we conducted semistructured virtual interviews with 31 campus-based and -serving antiviolence personnel. This practice-to-research approach allowed us to explore how COVID-19 affected LGBTQ+ college students, faculty, and staff’s (a) experiences of SRV and (b) prevention and response efforts meant to serve this population. Antiviolence personnel described how LGBTQ+ survivors’ experiences of SRV were shaped by unsafe homes; less privacy; “social isolation, not just social distancing”; and LGBTQ+ people, especially queer and trans Black, Indigenous, and people of color “getting thrown under the bus” related to COVID-19. Participants explored themes of going remote, relationship building: “it’s just not the same,” inaccessibility, and more accessibility as they navigated keeping prevention education and services afloat. We share recommendations for practice, policy, and future research that continue to apply even as the public health emergency declaration for COVID-19 has been lifted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)