Source: Canadian Press and Canada.com
OTTAWA - Gays, lesbians and bisexuals reported higher rates of victimization by violence than heterosexuals in 2004 - including sexual assault, robbery and physical assault.

The Statistics Canada study examined victimization rates, perceptions of discrimination, fear of crime and attitudes toward the justice system among gays, lesbians and bisexuals.

The odds of being victimized by violence were nearly two times greater for gays and lesbians and 4.5 times greater for bisexuals than they were for heterosexuals.

Similar studies have indicated some factors typical of the so-called gay lifestyle related to higher rates of victimization - the young, singles or students; those living in urban areas and people who go out at night tend to be at higher risk of violence.

But the agency says sexual orientation still figured in violent victimization, even with those factors taken into account.

The new statistics probably do not reflect the full extent of the problem, an expert in law and sexuality at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., said Thursday.

"The research that was done on this issue previously in Canada has disclosed, surprisingly, very high results in all categories (of violence), ranging from extreme assault resulting in death, way to the other end of the continuum, which is threatening behaviour in public, including spitting, saying derogatory comments and so on," Kathleen Lahey said in an interview with Canada.com.

This survey marked the first time Statistics Canada asked respondents to identify their sexual orientation.

"For a long time Statistics Canada has been trying to claim that it's too hard to study issues relating to sexuality," Lahey said. "And I am pleased to see that they have overcome their methodological reservations.

"At the same time, I have no doubt that if their study were to be studied . . . we would see that they probably have figures that under-report both the sexual identity of the people they did talk to and the degree of victimization."

In fact, Lahey said previous studies indicate that three-quarters of lesbians, for example, experience harassment or the threat of violence - if not outright violence - at some point in their lives.

Because Canada is one of the first countries in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, "there is an increased perception that all must be well with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and transsexual individuals in Canada," Lahey said. "But, as people who live these lives know, that is not true."

Lahey says research indicates an "amazing number" of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender individuals are afraid to tell their family physicians about their sexual orientation, for fear that they will not receive equal treatment in the health care system.

Other studies have established that victims of violence under-report their sexual orientation for fear of exposure, even to researchers, she said.

Full article: The Canadian Press: Gays, lesbians and bisexuals report higher rates of victimization by violence
Gay, lesbian and bisexual Canadians at high risk of violence: StatsCan | Canada.com