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Abstract: 

This article reports on a survey examining the extent to which rape culture—the trivialization of sexual assault—is tied to negative sexual experiences among LGBTQ+ college students. A sample of LGBTQ+ students were surveyed about their encounters with sexual coercion, rape, harassment, and other unwanted sexual interactions. The research follows up on earlier findings suggesting that members of the LGBTQ+ community suffer sexual assault at higher rates than do straight individuals. Results demonstrated that, indeed, these LGBTQ+ college students endured a high rate of undesirable sexual experiences. The author discusses the relationships between encountering such experiences and LGBTQ+ status, rape culture, and poor mental health.

Keywords: Rape Culture; LGBTQ+ Status; Mental Health

Affiliations:  1: Carroll University; 2: Carroll University.