Acts of bias-related violence against LGBTQ+ persons and the LGBTQ+ community: prevalence, psychosocial consequences, interventions, and recommendations

Bias-related violence (violence targeting individuals because of their identity) against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other non-heterosexual or cisgender identified (LGBTQ+) individuals is a largely hidden public health and safety crisis. In this chapter we provide a review of the literature documenting how often LGBTQ+ individuals experience acts of bias-related violence, differences in risk across various LGBTQ+ identities, and the characteristics of perpetrators of anti-LGBTQ+ bias-related violence. We then review the myriad psychosocial consequences that these acts of bias-related violence can have, both for the individuals who are directly targeted and for the broader LGBTQ+ community. We also discuss the need for the development of interventions addressing the psychosocial sequalae of anti-LGBTQ+ bias-related violence, both for survivors and individuals indirectly exposed. We then conclude with detailed recommendations for future research, practice, policy, and advocacy.