A Descriptive Study of Sexual Assault Cases Involving Transgender Survivors Who Sought Post-Assault Care

Transgender individuals experience gender-based violence at alarmingly high rates, with research indicating that nearly one in two trans* folks report having been sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Though trans* people are disproportionately targeted by sexual assault, there is very little literature on the dynamics of sexual assault targeting them. The current study seeks to center trans* survivors of sexual assault who sought post-assault medical care using state-wide administrative data. Descriptive analyses are provided of 197 cases involving a transgender survivor of sexual assault who sought post-assault care in Massachusetts between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2021. Results reveal novel information regarding survivor characteristics (gender, race, and age), assault dynamics (number of perpetrators, survivor-perpetrator relationship, perpetrator gender, retraining order before assault, condom use, ejaculation, bleeding injuries to survivor and perpetrator, and penetrative acts described by survivor), and post-assault action (days between assault and exam, SANE exam, evidence collection kit used, toxicology kit used, police report filed, and restraining order after assault). Findings indicate an overrepresentation of trans* survivors who were racialized as Black, and Hispanic, and gendered as women sought care. Future research and practice implications are discussed.