New BUSSW Chapter Examines Barriers Facing Gay and Bisexual Black and Latino Sexual Assault Survivors
Gay and bisexual Black and Latino men who survive sexual assault face compounding barriers at every stage of seeking help, from reporting the assault to accessing medical and mental health care. A new book chapter by Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) researchers examines the roots of those barriers and calls for stronger, more inclusive protections for this underserved population.
Published in “The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Problems,” the chapter was co-authored by BUSSW Professors Daniel Jacobson López and Jorge Delva. Their work addresses a significant gap in existing literature: the near absence of research focused on the experiences of gay and bisexual Black and Latino male sexual assault survivors in the United States.
A Population Left Out of Research and Policy
The writing explores how racism and homophobia intersect to create barriers for this population throughout the reporting process and in post-assault care. The authors discuss that these men often encounter bias, disbelief, and a lack of culturally tailored interventions from the systems designed to support them. Concerns about masculinity, fear of not being believed, and distrust of authorities further discourage many from coming forward.
The research also traces the history of U.S. sexual assault policy, revealing how federal definitions and legal protections have excluded men and continue to fall short for survivors whose identities sit at the intersection of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Existing legislation tends to protect only one aspect of a person’s identity at a time, leaving gay and bisexual Black and Latino men without comprehensive legal coverage.
Why This Matters
The consequences of these gaps are significant. Men who are sexually assaulted and do not receive adequate support are at greater risk for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and other negative mental health outcomes that affect their relationships, employment and overall wellbeing.
Drs. Jacobson López and Delva call for culturally informed, trauma-responsive care from medical and mental health providers, as well as updated federal policies that account for the full complexity of survivors’ identities. They also recommend additional research to better understand the specific needs and experiences of this population, which remains largely absent from empirical literature.
Their work is a call to researchers, policymakers, clinicians and advocates alike: these survivors deserve to be seen, believed, and cared for.
Learn more about Professor Daniel Jacobson López
Learn more about Professor Jorge Delva