U.S.

Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics

Statistical Brief
JUNE 2022 NCJ 304277

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation

and Gender Identity, 2017–2020
Jennifer L. Truman, Ph.D., and Rachel E. Morgan, Ph.D., BJS Statisticians

D
uring the 4-year aggregate period of 2017 to
Figure 1
2020, the rates of violent victimization were Rate of violent victimization, by sexual
significantly higher for persons age 16 or older orientation and gender identity, 2017–20
who self-identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual than for
Rate per 1,000 persons age 16 or older
those who identified as straight, according to the
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).1 160 †
Persons who identified as lesbian or gay experienced †
43.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16 or older, 120
more than twice the rate among persons who identified
as straight (19.0 per 1,000) (figure 1).2 Violent †
80
victimization includes rape or sexual assault, robbery,
†
aggravated assault, and simple assault.
40
Based on 2017–20 population data from the NCVS,
1.4% of persons age 16 or older self-identified as being
0
lesbian or gay and 0.7% identified as being bisexual. Lesbian/gay Bisexual Something Straight* Transgender Cisgender*
else
(See appendix table 9.) The rate of violent victimization Sexual orientation Gender identity
was significantly higher among bisexual persons
Note: Figure shows 95% confidence intervals. See table 1 for violence
1In the NCVS, categories of sexual orientation include lesbian or definition, appendix table 1 for rates and standard errors, and appendix
table 9 for populations. See Terms and definitions.
gay, bisexual, straight, and something else. See Terms and definitions.
*Comparison group.
2In this report, statistical significance is at the 90% or 95%
†Difference with comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence level.
confidence level for all comparisons. See figures and tables for
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
testing on specific findings. 2017–20.

Highlights
During 2017 to 2020— ƒ Domestic violence was eight times as high among
ƒ The rate of violent victimization of lesbian or gay bisexual persons (32.3 victimizations per 1,000 persons
persons (43.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16 age 16 or older) and more than twice as high among
or older) was more than two times the rate for straight lesbian or gay persons (10.3 per 1,000) as it was among
persons (19.0 per 1,000). straight persons (4.2 per 1,000).

ƒ The rate of violent victimization against transgender ƒ Violent victimizations of bisexual persons (31%)
persons (51.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16 or were less likely to be reported to police than violent
older) was 2.5 times the rate among cisgender persons victimizations of straight persons (45%).
(20.5 per 1,000). ƒ The violent victimization rate for bisexual females (151.2
ƒ About 58% of violent victimizations of lesbian or gay victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16 or older) was
persons were reported to police. eight times the rate for straight females (19.2 per 1,000).
(129.1 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16 or Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity
older) than lesbian or gay persons (43.5 per 1,000) or in the National Crime Victimization Survey and Terms
persons who identified as straight (19.0 per 1,000) and definitions.)
during 2017–20. Persons who identified as “something
During 2017–20, the victimization-to-population ratio
else” experienced violent victimization at a higher rate
for persons who identified as lesbian or gay was 2.2,
(106.2 per 1,000) than lesbian or gay persons.3
meaning that the percentage of violent victimizations
According to the NCVS, 0.11% of persons age 16 for persons who identified as lesbian or gay (3.0%)
or older identified as transgender during 2017–20.4 was about two times the percentage of lesbian or
(See appendix table 9.) During this period, the rate of gay persons in the population (1.4%). (See appendix
violent victimization was 2.5 times as high for persons table 6.) The victimization-to-population ratio was 6.4
who identified as transgender (51.5 victimizations for bisexual persons (who accounted for 0.7% of the
per 1,000 persons age 16 or older) as persons population and 4.7% of violent victimizations) and 0.9
who identified as cisgender (20.5 per 1,000). (See for straight persons.
3The NCVS includes “something else” as a response option for the The victimization-to-population ratio for transgender
sexual orientation question. Write-in responses are not collected persons also exceeded their share of the population.
for this category. Therefore, additional information about what is Transgender persons accounted 0.3% of violent
included in this category is unknown.
4In the NCVS, categories of gender identity include transgender victimizations during 2017–20, for a ratio of 2.5.
and cisgender. See Terms and definitions.

Terms and definitions

Cisgender person—An individual whose gender Sexual orientation—An individual’s sexual identity
identity (internal sense of gender, that is, being male or or how an individual self-identifies as lesbian, gay,
female) is the same as their sex assigned at birth. bisexual, or straight. Sexual orientation has three main
Gender identity—An individual’s internal sense or components: sexual attraction, sexual behavior, and
perception of their own gender, which can be the same sexual identity. Sexual attraction or behavior refers to
as or different from their sex assigned at birth. an individual’s attraction to, or engagement in sexual
activities with, members of the same sex, the opposite
Sex—A characteristic measured in two ways in sex, or both sexes. Sexual attraction or behavior does
the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS): not define a demographic population, and same-sex
1) household respondents are asked to identify each attraction or behavior does not always coincide with
person living in the household as male or female, and gay, lesbian, or bisexual identity. The NCVS uses sexual
2) respondents age 16 or older are asked to self-identify identity for measuring sexual orientation to meet the
their sex assigned at birth, on their original birth survey’s objective of estimating victimization among
certificate. The Bureau of Justice Statistics typically uses demographic populations.
the first measure in reports analyzing NCVS data.
Transgender person—An individual whose gender
identity (internal sense of gender, that is, being male or
female) is different from their sex assigned at birth.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 2
The rate of violent crime excluding simple assault Bisexual persons experienced domestic violence at
against lesbian or gay persons was two times the eight times the rate that straight persons did
rate for straight persons
Domestic violence includes violent victimizations
The rate of violent victimization varied significantly committed by current or former intimate partners or
by sexual orientation during 2017–20. The rate of family members. Compared to the rate of domestic
rape or sexual assault against persons who identified violence against straight persons (4.2 victimizations
as bisexual (27.6 victimizations per 1,000 persons age per 1,000 persons age 16 or older), the rate among
16 or older) was 18 times the rate for persons who bisexual persons was about eight times as high
identified as straight (1.5 per 1,000) (table 1). The rate (32.3 per 1,000) and the rate for lesbian or gay persons
of rape or sexual assault was also higher for lesbian or (10.3 per 1,000) was more than twice as high. The
gay persons (3.1 per 1,000) than straight persons (1.5 rate of intimate partner violence (domestic violence
per 1,000). victimizations committed by current or former
intimate partners only) was higher for bisexual persons
During 2017–20, the rates of robbery against bisexual
(20.9 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16 or older)
persons (15.7 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16
than straight persons (2.5 per 1,000).
or older) and lesbian or gay persons (6.4 per 1,000)
were greater than the rate among straight persons For stranger violence, the rate among bisexual persons
(1.8 per 1,000). This pattern held for rates of total (55.0 victimizations per 1,000 persons 16 or older) and
assault, simple assault, and violent crime excluding lesbian or gay persons (23.4 per 1,000) was higher than
simple assault. The rate of aggravated assault against the rate among straight persons (7.6 per 1,000). This
bisexual persons (16.4 per 1,000 persons age 16 or pattern also held for rates of violent crime involving an
older) was higher than the rate among straight persons injury and violent crime involving a weapon.
(3.4 per 1,000).

Table 1
Rate of violent victimization, by sexual orientation and type of crime, 2017–20
Rate per 1,000 persons age 16 or older Standard error
Type of crime Lesbian/gay Bisexual Straight* Lesbian/gay Bisexual Straight
Violent crimea 43.5 † 129.1 † 19.0 4.40 10.25 0.67
Rape/sexual assaultb 3.1 ‡ 27.6 † 1.5 0.93 4.23 0.12
Robbery 6.4 † 15.7 † 1.8 1.53 3.35 0.15
Assault 34.1 † 85.8 † 15.6 3.82 8.24 0.59
Aggravated assault 5.0 16.4 † 3.4 1.32 3.41 0.22
Simple assault 29.1 † 69.3 † 12.2 3.65 7.67 0.52
Violent crime excluding simple assaultc 14.5 † 59.8 † 6.8 2.36 6.89 0.34
Selected characteristics of violent crime
Domestic violenced 10.3 † 32.3 † 4.2 1.88 4.70 0.24
Intimate partner violencee 3.4 20.9 † 2.5 0.99 3.66 0.17
Stranger violence 23.4 † 55.0 † 7.6 3.04 6.38 0.36
Violent crime involving injury 10.8 † 35.7 † 4.2 1.93 4.98 0.24
Violent crime involving a weapon 7.9 † 22.0 † 4.2 1.60 3.77 0.24
Note: Categories of violent crime include threatened, attempted, and completed occurrences of rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault,
and simple assault. See Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity in the National Crime Victimization Survey. Estimates for persons who
identified as “something else” are not shown due to the small number of sample cases. See appendix table 2 for 95% confidence intervals, appendix
table 3 for numbers of victimizations, and appendix table 9 for populations.
*Comparison group.
†Difference with comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence level.
‡Difference with comparison group is significant at the 90% confidence level.
aExcludes homicide because the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is based on interviews with victims.
bSee Methodology for details on the measurement of rape or sexual assault in the NCVS.
cIncludes rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault.
dIncludes the subset of violent victimizations that were committed by intimate partners or family members.
eIncludes the subset of violent victimizations that were committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, or girlfriends.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 3
 Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity in the National Crime
Victimization Survey
The 2013 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, Which of the following best represents how you
the 2009 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate think of yourself?
Crimes Prevention Act, and other federal laws „ Lesbian or gay
established protections for violent crime victims who
identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. In July „ Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay
2016, sexual orientation and gender identity measures „ Bisexual
were added to the demographic section of the National
Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).5 These measures „ Something else
provide a way to estimate criminal victimization by „ I don’t know the answer
sexual orientation and gender identity.
„ Refused
Sexual orientation
Gender identity
There are three components of sexual orientation:
sexual attraction, sexual behavior, and sexual identity.6 Gender identity is defined as an individual’s internal
The NCVS sexual orientation question measures sexual sense or perception of their own gender, which can be
identity, which is how an individual self-identifies as the same as or different from their sex assigned at
lesbian, gay, bisexual, or straight. The NCVS question birth.9 The NCVS uses a two-step approach to ask
is based on a question in the National Center for questions about sex assigned at birth and current
Health Statistics’ National Health Interview Survey. gender identity, similar to the 2016 Survey of Prison
The question also aligns with the Sexual Minority Inmates, National Adult Tobacco Survey, and California
Assessment Research Team’s recommendations Health Interview Survey. Responses to these questions
for measuring sexual orientation.7 The question are used to classify persons as transgender (gender
and response options in bold are read aloud to the identity is different from their sex assigned at birth) or
respondents by interviewers:8 cisgender (gender identity is the same as their sex
assigned at birth). This method has identified
5Martinez, M., Henderson, A., Luck, J., & Davis, M. C. (2017). transgender individuals more successfully than a single
Cognitive pretesting of the National Crime Victimization Survey question has.10,11,12 The two-step approach allows for
Supplemental Victimization Survey. U.S. Census Bureau. https://
transgender individuals who identify as male or female
www.census.gov/library/working-papers/2017/adrm/rsm2017-
03.html. but not transgender to report their gender identity and
6Federal Interagency Working Group on Improving be classified as transgender for statistical analysis.
Measurement of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Continued on next page
Federal Surveys. (2016). Current measures of sexual orientation
and gender identity in federal surveys. Office of Management and 9Federal Interagency Working Group on Improving
Budget, Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology. https://
Measurement of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in
nces.ed.gov/FCSM/pdf/current_measures_20160812.pdf.
Federal Surveys. (2016). Current measures of sexual orientation
7Sexual Minority Assessment Research Team (SMART). (2009).
and gender identity in federal surveys. Office of Management and
Best practices for asking questions about sexual orientation on Budget, Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology. https://
surveys. The Williams Institute, https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla. nces.ed.gov/FCSM/pdf/current_measures_20160812.pdf.
edu/wp-content/uploads/Best-Practices-SO-Surveys-Nov-2009. 10Gender Identity in U.S. Surveillance (GenIUSS) group. (2014).
pdf.
Best practices for asking questions to identify transgender
8See the NCVS-1 for specific interviewer instructions when
and other gender minority respondents on population-based
reading response options for sexual orientation and gender surveys (J. L. Herman, Ed.). The Williams Institute. https://
identity questions at https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/ williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/geniuss-trans-pop-
ncvs20_bsq.pdf. based-survey.
11Federal Interagency Working Group on Improving
Measurement of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in
Federal Surveys. (2016). Evaluations of sexual orientation and
gender identity survey measures: What have we learned? Office
of Management and Budget, Federal Committee on Statistical
Methodology. https://nces.ed.gov/FCSM/pdf/Evaluations_of_
SOGI_Questions_20160923.pdf.
12Beatty, L. G., & Snell, T. L. (2021). Profile of prison inmates,
2016. Bureau of Justice Statistics. https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/
pub/pdf/ppi16.pdf.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 4
 Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity in the National Crime
Victimization Survey (continued)
Interviewers read the two questions aloud to Interviewers read the gender identity confirmation
respondents (response options are shown to question aloud to respondents (response options are
interviewers but not read to respondents; for current shown to interviewers but not read to respondents)—
gender identity, interviewers code “Refused” and Just to confirm, you were assigned (male/female)
“Don’t know” responses)— at birth and now (describe yourself as male/
What sex were you assigned at birth, on your describe yourself as female/ describe yourself as
original birth certificate? transgender/ do not describe yourself as male,
„ Male female, or transgender). Is that correct?
„ Yes
„ Female
„ No
„ Refused
„ Refused
„ Don’t know
„ Don’t know
Do you currently describe yourself as male,
female or transgender? Responses to sex assigned at birth and current gender
„ Male identity are combined into a measure of gender
identity.
„ Female
For this report, persons were identified as transgender
„ Transgender if their responses to sex assigned at birth differed from
their current gender identity, unless they reported
„ None of these
“None of these.” Those who reported “None of these”
The NCVS also uses a confirmation question to check were excluded from the transgender estimates because
for potential coding errors in the Computer Assisted the NCVS does not collect write-in responses for this
Personal Interviewing (CAPI) program and responses response category that support classifying these
where the respondent’s current gender identity is individuals as transgender.
different from their sex assigned at birth. The CAPI Among persons age 16 or older identified as
program automatically populates with the respondent’s transgender because their responses to sex assigned at
answers to the sex assigned at birth and current gender birth differed from their current gender identity during
identity questions. If the respondent indicates that an 2017–20, about 54% were assigned male or female at
error was made in recording their responses to either birth and identified as transgender, and 46% either
sex assigned at birth or current gender identity, then were assigned male at birth and identified as female or
the interviewer fixes the recorded response. were assigned female at birth and identified as male.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 5
The rate of violent victimization of transgender Transgender persons experienced 51.5 victimizations
persons was 2.5 times the rate for cisgender per 1,000 persons age 16 or older (table 2). This was
persons 2.5 times the violent victimization rate among persons
identifying as cisgender (20.5 per 1,000). Transgender
During 2017–20, there were 53,100 violent persons also experienced simple assault (32.5 per
victimizations of persons age 16 or older who self- 1,000) at significantly higher rates than cisgender
identified as transgender. (See appendix table 5.) persons (13.0 per 1,000).

Table 2
Rate of violent victimization, by gender identity and type of crime, 2017–20
Rate per 1,000 persons age 16 or older Standard error
Type of crime Transgendera Cisgender*b Transgender Cisgender
Violent crimec 51.5 † 20.5 13.33 0.70
Violent crime excluding simple assaultd 19.0 7.4 8.07 0.36
Simple assault 32.5 ‡ 13.0 11.00 0.54
Note: Categories of violent crime include threatened, attempted, and completed occurrences of rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault,
and simple assault. See appendix table 4 for 95% confidence intervals, appendix table 5 for numbers of victimizations, and appendix table 9 for
populations.
*Comparison group.
†Difference with comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence level.
‡Difference with comparison group is significant at the 90% confidence level.
aAn individual whose gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth. Includes respondents who reported identifying as transgender (54%
of all transgender persons) or as a gender different from their sex assigned at birth (46%). See Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity in
the National Crime Victimization Survey.
bAn individual whose gender identity is the same as their sex assigned at birth.
cExcludes homicide because the National Crime Victimization Survey is based on interviews with victims.
dIncludes rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 6
Bisexual females experienced violent victimization Among Asians, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific
at a rate eight times the rate among straight females Islanders, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and
persons of two or more races, those identifying as
During 2017–20, the rate of violent victimization of lesbian or gay had a higher violent victimization rate
gay males (38.3 victimizations per 1,000 persons age (49.4 per 1,000) than those identifying as straight
16 or older) was two times the rate among straight (20.1 per 1,000). For each racial and ethnic group in
males (18.7 per 1,000) (table 3). Bisexual males had the this analysis, bisexual persons experienced violent
highest rate (64.5 per 1,000) among male victims. The victimization more often than straight persons.
pattern was similar among female victims. Bisexual
females experienced violent victimization at eight During 2017–20, the rate of violent victimization of
times (151.2 per 1,000) and lesbian or gay females at persons ages 18 to 24 was six times as high for those
2.6 times (50.3 per 1,000) the rate that straight females identifying as bisexual (198.7 victimizations per 1,000
did (19.2 per 1,000). Among bisexual persons, the rate persons) as for those identifying as straight (32.8 per
of violent victimization was higher for females (151.2 1,000). Among persons ages 25 to 34, lesbian or gay
per 1,000) than males (64.5 per 1,000). persons (81.4 per 1,000) and bisexual persons (97.2 per
1,000) had higher rates of violent victimization than
Among white persons, those identifying as lesbian straight persons (24.1 per 1,000). Among lesbian or gay
or gay experienced violent victimization (49.0 persons, the violent victimization rate was higher for
victimizations per 1,000 persons) more than twice as those ages 25 to 34 (81.4 per 1,000) than for those ages
often as those identifying as straight (19.2 per 1,000). 18 to 24 and 35 or older.

Table 3
Rate of violent victimization, by sexual orientation and demographic characteristics, 2017–20
Rate per 1,000 persons age 16 or older Standard error
Demographic characteristic Lesbian/gay Bisexual Straight* Lesbian/gay Bisexual Straight
Total 43.5 † 129.1 † 19.0 4.40 10.25 0.67
Sexa
Male 38.3 † 64.5 † 18.7 5.07 11.99 0.82
Female 50.3 † 151.2 † 19.2 6.50 12.37 0.82
Race/Hispanic origin
Whiteb 49.0 † 130.8 † 19.2 5.44 12.11 0.77
Blackb 26.6 ! 96.4 † 18.5 8.12 21.26 1.25
Hispanic/Latino 29.1 107.8 † 18.1 7.39 19.09 1.11
Otherb,c 49.4 † 193.2 † 20.1 14.59 31.78 1.49
Age
16–17 31.0 ! 80.2 † 22.2 20.87 19.30 2.24
18–24 41.0 198.7 † 32.8 9.24 18.24 1.86
25–34 81.4 † 97.2 † 24.1 10.60 14.60 1.32
35–49 30.7 114.2 † 21.0 6.14 20.62 1.09
50–64 29.2 ‡ 48.3 ‡ 17.4 5.99 17.24 0.96
65 or older 22.0 † 13.7 ! 6.2 7.97 13.46 0.52
Note: Includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Excludes homicide because the National Crime Victimization
Survey is based on interviews with victims. See Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity in the National Crime Victimization Survey.
Estimates for persons who identified as “something else” are not shown due to the small number of sample cases. See appendix table 7 for 95%
confidence intervals and appendix table 10 for populations.
*Comparison group.
†Difference with comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence level.
‡Difference with comparison group is significant at the 90% confidence level.
! Interpret data with caution. Estimate is based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
aBased on data collected on the household roster for the sampled household. This measure asks the household respondent to identify each person
living in the household as male or female.
bExcludes persons of Hispanic/Latino origin (e.g., “white” refers to non-Hispanic white persons and “Black” refers to non-Hispanic Black persons).
cIncludes Asians, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and persons of two or more races. Categories are not
shown separately due to the small number of sample cases.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 7
During 2017–20, about 58% of violent
Figure 2
victimizations against lesbian or gay persons were
Percent of violent victimizations reported to
reported to police police, by sexual orientation, 2017–20
The NCVS provides statistics on crimes reported and Percent
not reported to police and on the reasons why a crime 70 †
was not reported to police. During 2017–20, violent 60
victimizations against persons who identified as lesbian
or gay were more likely to be reported to police (58%) 50
than violent victimizations of persons who identified as 40 †
straight (45%) or bisexual (31%) (figure 2).
30
Reporting to police may occur during or immediately
20
following a criminal incident or at a later date.
Police may be notified by the victim or a third party 10
(including witnesses; other victims; household 0
members; or nonpolice officials, such as school officials Lesbian/gay Bisexual Straight*
or workplace managers), or police may have been at Note: Figure shows 95% confidence intervals. Estimates for persons who
the scene of the incident. identified as “something else” are not shown due to the small number
of sample cases. Violent victimization includes threatened, attempted,
Lesbian or gay persons chose not to report their violent and completed occurrences of rape or sexual assault, robbery,
aggravated assault, and simple assault. See Measurement of sexual
victimization to police for a variety of reasons. Some orientation and gender identity in the National Crime Victimization Survey.
of the most common reasons included considering the See appendix table 8 for estimates and standard errors.
crime to be minor or unsuccessful, believing the crime *Comparison group.
to be a private or personal issue, not wanting to get the †Difference with comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence
level.
offender in trouble with the law, or believing police Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
would be ineffective (not shown in figure). For persons 2017–20.
identifying as bisexual or straight, the most common
reasons for not reporting the victimization to police
were because they reported it to another official or
believed the crime to be a private or personal issue (not
shown in figure).

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 8
Methodology Household information, including household-
level demographics (e.g., income) and property
victimizations committed against the household (e.g.,
Survey coverage in the National Crime burglary or trespassing), is typically collected from
Victimization Survey the reference person. The reference person is any
responsible adult member of the household who is
The Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) National Crime
unlikely to permanently leave the household. Because
Victimization Survey (NCVS) is an annual data
an owner or renter of the sampled housing unit is
collection carried out by the U.S. Census Bureau. The
normally the most responsible and knowledgeable
NCVS is a self-report survey that is administered
household member, this person is generally designated
annually from January 1 to December 31. Annual
as the reference person and household respondent.
NCVS estimates are based on the number and
However, a household respondent does not have to be
characteristics of crimes that respondents experienced
one of the household members who owns or rents the
during the prior 6 months, excluding the month in
unit.
which they were interviewed. Therefore, the 2020
survey covers crimes experienced from July 1, 2019 to In the NCVS, a household is defined as a group of
November 30, 2020, with March 15, 2020 as the middle persons who all reside at a sampled address. Persons
of the reference period. Crimes are classified by the are considered household members when the sampled
year of the survey and not by the year of the crime. address is their usual place of residence at the time of
the interview and when they have no primary place
The NCVS is administered to persons age 12 or
of residence elsewhere. Once selected, households
older from a nationally representative sample of
remain in the sample for 3.5 years, and eligible persons
U.S. households. It collects information on nonfatal
in these households are interviewed every 6 months,
personal crimes (rape or sexual assault, robbery,
either in person or over the phone, for a total of
aggravated assault, simple assault, and personal larceny
seven interviews.
(purse snatching and pocket picking)) and household
property crimes (burglary or trespassing, motor vehicle First interviews are typically conducted in person, with
theft, and other types of theft). subsequent interviews conducted either in person or
by phone. New households rotate into the sample on an
The survey collects information on threatened,
ongoing basis to replace outgoing households that have
attempted, and completed crimes. It collects data
been in the sample for the full 3.5-year period. The
on crimes both reported and not reported to police.
sample includes persons living in group quarters, such
Unless specified otherwise, estimates in this report
as dormitories, rooming houses, and religious group
include threatened, attempted, and completed crimes.
dwellings, and excludes persons living on military
In addition to providing annual level and change
bases or in institutional settings such as correctional or
estimates on criminal victimization, the NCVS is
hospital facilities.
the primary source of information on the nature of
criminal victimization incidents.
Measurement of crime in the NCVS
Survey respondents provide information about
themselves (including age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, NCVS data can be used to produce several types
marital status, education level, and income) and of estimates, including victimization, incident, and
whether they experienced a victimization. For each prevalence rates. Victimization rates measure the
victimization incident, respondents report information extent to which violent and property victimizations
about the offender (including age, sex, race, occur in a specified population during a specified time.
Hispanic origin, and victim-offender relationship), Victimization numbers show the total number of times
characteristics of the crime (including time and place that persons or households are victimized by crime.
of occurrence, use of weapons, nature of injury, and For crimes affecting persons, NCVS victimization
economic consequences), whether the crime was rates are estimated by dividing the number of
reported to police, reasons the crime was or was not victimizations that occur during a specified time (T) by
reported, and experiences with the criminal justice the population at risk for those victimizations and then
system. multiplying the rate by 1,000.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 9
 Number of victimizations or households in the population and multiplying the
experienced by a specified rate by 100, yielding the percentage of the population
populationT
Victimization rateT = x 1,000 victimized at least once in a period.
Number of unique persons
(or households) in the Number of unique victims (or victimized
specified populationT households) in a specified populationT
Prevalence rateT = x 100
For victimization rates, each victimization represents Number of unique persons (or
one person (for personal crimes) or one household (for households) in the specified populationT
property crimes) affected by a crime.13 Every For more information about measuring prevalence in
victimization experienced by a person or household the NCVS, see Measuring the Prevalence of Crime with
during the year is counted. For example, if one person the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCJ 241656,
experiences two violent crimes during the year, both BJS, September 2013).
are counted in the victimization rate. If one household
experiences two property crimes, both are counted in Nonresponse and weighting adjustments
the victimization rate. Victimization estimates are
presented in figures 1 and 2, tables 1 through 3, and The 2020 NCVS data file includes 138,327 household
appendix table 6 in this report. interviews. Overall, 67% of eligible households
completed interviews. Within participating
Incident rates are another measure of crime. The households, interviews with 223,079 persons were
number of incidents is the number of specific completed in 2020, representing an 82% response rate
criminal acts involving one or more victims. If every among eligible persons from responding households.
victimization had one victim, the number of incidents
would be the same as the number of victimizations. If Victimizations that occurred outside of the United
there was more than one victim, the incident estimate States were excluded from this report. In 2020, about
is adjusted to compensate for the possibility that the 0.4% of the unweighted victimizations occurred
incident could be reported several times by multiple outside of the United States.
victims and thus be overcounted. For example, if NCVS data are weighted to produce annual estimates
two persons were robbed during the same incident, of victimization for persons age 12 or older living in
this crime would be counted as one incident and U.S. households. Because the NCVS relies on a sample
two victimizations. Incident rates are not included in rather than a census of the entire U.S. population,
this report. weights are designed to adjust to known population
Prevalence rates are a third measure that reflect a totals and to compensate for survey nonresponse and
population’s risk of experiencing one or more criminal other aspects of the complex sample design.
victimizations. They describe the level of victimization, NCVS data files include person, household,
like victimization rates, but are based on the number victimization, and incident weights. Person weights
of unique persons or households in the population provide an estimate of the population represented
experiencing at least one victimization during a specified by each person in the sample. Household weights
time. Prevalence rates are not included in this report. provide an estimate of the household population
The key distinction between a victimization rate and represented by each household in the sample. After
a prevalence rate is whether the numerator consists of proper adjustment, both person and household weights
the number of victimizations or the number of unique are also typically used to form the denominator in
victims. For example, a person who experienced two calculations of crime rates.
robberies within the past year would be counted twice For personal crimes, the incident weight is derived
in the victimization rate but only once in the prevalence by dividing the person weight of a victim by the total
rate. Prevalence rates are estimated by dividing the number of persons victimized during an incident,
number of unique victims or victimized households in as reported by the respondent. For property crimes
the specified population by the total number of persons measured at the household level, the incident weight
13In the NCVS, personal crimes are personal larceny (purse and the household weight are the same, because the
snatching and pocket picking) and violent victimizations (rape victim of a property crime is considered to be the
or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault). household as a whole. The incident weight is most
Homicide is not included because the NCVS is based on interviews frequently used to calculate estimates of offenders’ and
with victims. Property crimes are burglary or trespassing, motor
vehicle theft, and other theft. victims’ demographics.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 10
Victimization weights used in this report account for another, estimates based on a sample have some degree
the number of persons victimized during an incident of sampling error. The sampling error of an estimate
and for high-frequency repeat victimizations (i.e., depends on several factors, including the amount of
series victimizations). Series victimizations are similar variation in the responses and the size of the sample.
in type to one another but occur with such frequency When the sampling error around an estimate is taken
that a victim is unable to recall each individual event into account, the apparent difference between estimates
or describe each event in detail. Survey procedures may not be statistically significant.
allow NCVS interviewers to identify and classify these
One measure of the sampling error associated with
similar victimizations as series victimizations and to
an estimate is the standard error. The standard error
collect detailed information on only the most recent
may vary from one estimate to the next. Generally,
incident in the series.
an estimate with a smaller standard error provides a
The weighting counts series victimizations as the actual more reliable approximation of the true value than an
number of victimizations reported by the victim, estimate with a larger standard error. Estimates with
up to a maximum of 10. Doing so produces more relatively large standard errors have less precision and
reliable estimates of crime levels than counting such reliability and should be interpreted with caution.
victimizations only once, while the cap at 10 minimizes
For complex sample designs, there are several methods
the effect of extreme outliers on rates.
that can be used to generate standard errors around
According to the 2020 data, series victimizations a point estimate (e.g., numbers, percentages, and
accounted for 1.1% of all victimizations and 2.7% of rates). These include direct variance estimation and
all violent victimizations. For more information on the generalized variance function (GVF) parameters.
enumeration of series victimizations see Methods for
In this report, GVF parameters were used for variance
Counting High-Frequency Repeat Victimizations in the
estimation. The U.S. Census Bureau produces GVF
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCJ 237308, BJS,
parameters for BJS, which account for aspects of the
April 2012).
NCVS’s complex sample design and represent the curve
The 2020 NCVS weights include an additional fitted to a selection of individual standard errors, using
adjustment to address the impact of modified field a specialized version of Balanced Repeated Replication
operations due to COVID-19. For more information (BRR) based on Fay’s method (see explanation below).
on the weighting adjustments applied in 2020, see
GVFs express the variance as a function of the
Source and Accuracy Statement for the 2020 National
expected value of the survey estimate.14 The GVF
Crime Victimization Survey in the NCVS 2020
parameters are generated by fitting estimates and their
Codebook (https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/NACJD/
relative variance to a regression model, using an
studies/38090/datadocumentation) and National Crime
iterative weighted least-squares procedure where the
Victimization Survey, 2016: Technical Documentation
weight is the inverse of the square of the predicted
(NCJ 251442, BJS, December 2017).
relative variance. For more information, see National
Beginning in 2020, BJS incorporated an additional Crime Victimization Survey, 2016: Technical
factor to moderate the contribution of outlier weights Documentation (NCJ 251442, BJS, December 2017).
on NCVS estimates. For more information, see Source GVF parameters are available in the codebooks
and Accuracy Statement for the 2020 National Crime published with the NCVS public-use files through the
Victimization Survey in the NCVS 2020 Codebook National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (www.icpsr.
(https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/NACJD/ umich.edu/nacjd).
studies/38090/datadocumentation) and National Crime
Although not used in this report, another method
Victimization Survey: Assessment of Outlier Weights
to produce standard errors for NCVS estimates is
(NCJ 302186, BJS, October 2021).
through a specialized version of BRR estimation
using Fay’s method.15 BRR estimation is a type of
Standard error computations direct replication variance estimation. Under replicate
When national estimates are derived from a sample, as variance estimation, a set of replicate weights (e.g., the
with the NCVS, caution must be used when comparing NCVS typically has a set consisting of 160 replicate
one estimate to another or when comparing estimates 14Wolter, K. M. (2007). Introduction to variance estimation
over time. Although one estimate may be larger than (2nd ed.). Springer.
15Ibid.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 11
weights) is used to capture the sampling variance. Fay’s a standard error of 0.67. (See table 1.) A confidence
method is used for surveys that have rare outcomes interval around the estimate is generated by
in which the entire sample is necessary to properly multiplying the standard error by ± 1.96 (the t-score
estimate the variance. of a normal, two-tailed distribution that excludes
2.5% at either end of the distribution). Therefore, the
Although prevalence estimates are excluded from this
95% confidence interval around the 19.0 estimate for
report, BJS uses BRR and Taylor Series Linearization
2017–20 is 19.0 ± (0.67 × 1.96) or (17.67 to 20.31).
(TSL) methods to generate standard errors around
(See appendix table 2.) In other words, if BJS used
these estimates. The TSL method directly estimates
the same sampling method to select different samples
variances through a linearized function by combining
and computed an interval estimate for each sample,
variance estimates from the stratum and primary
it would expect the true population parameter (rate
sampling units (PSUs) used to sample households and
of violent victimization of persons identifying as
persons.16 In the NCVS, the design parameters used
straight) to fall within the interval estimates 95% of
for computing TSL variances are PSEUDOSTRATA
the time.
(stratum) and HALFSAMPLE (PSU). These design
parameters are available for all years except the first Confidence intervals for flagged estimates should
half of 1993 and all of 2016. Therefore, BRR methods be interpreted with caution, as large standard errors
must be used for 2016 prevalence estimates. may result in a lower-bound estimate less than zero.
For this report, BJS also calculated a coefficient of
Direct variance estimation—BRR or TSL—is generally
variation (CV) for all estimates, representing the ratio
considered more accurate than GVFs in terms of
of the standard error to the estimate. CVs (not shown
how closely the variance estimate approximates the
in tables) provide another measure of reliability and a
true variance. With direct variance estimation, each
means for comparing the precision of estimates across
estimate is generated based on the outcome being
measures with differing levels or metrics.
estimated rather than being generated based on a
generalized function.
NCVS measurement of rape or sexual assault
BJS conducted statistical tests to determine whether
differences in estimated numbers, percentages, and The NCVS uses a two-stage approach to screen and
rates in this report were statistically significant once classify criminal victimization, including rape or
sampling error was taken into account. Using statistical sexual assault. In the first stage, survey respondents are
analysis programs developed specifically for the NCVS, administered a series of short-cue screening questions
all comparisons in the text were tested for significance. designed to help respondents think about different
The primary test procedure was the Student’s t-statistic, experiences they may have had during the reference
which tests the difference between two sample period. (See NCVS-1 at https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/
estimates. Findings described in this report as increases pub/pdf/ncvs20_bsq.pdf.)
or decreases passed a test at either the 0.05 level (95% This design improves respondents’ recall of events,
confidence level) or 0.10 level (90% confidence level) of particularly for incidents that may not immediately
significance. Figures and tables in this report should be come to mind as crimes, such as those committed by
referenced for testing on specific findings. family members and acquaintances. Respondents who
Estimates and standard errors of the estimates answer affirmatively to any of the short-cue screening
provided in this report may be used to generate a items are subsequently administered a crime incident
confidence interval around the estimate as a measure report (CIR) designed to classify incidents into specific
of the margin of error. The following example crime types. (See NCVS-2 at https://bjs.ojp.gov/
illustrates how standard errors may be used to generate content/pub/pdf/ncvs20_cir.pdf.)
confidence intervals: First stage of measurement. Two short-cue screening
According to the NCVS, the rate of violent questions are specifically designed to target sexual
victimization of persons identifying as straight was victimization. The questions in the following section
19.0 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 16 or older on rape or sexual assault victimization come directly
during 2017–20. (See table 1.) Using the GVFs, BJS from the NCVS instrument:
determined that the estimated victimization rate has
16Ibid.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 12
 1. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) has one of the three questions and then respond that the
anyone attacked or threatened you in any of these completed, attempted, or threatened attack was—
ways—
„ rape
(Exclude telephone threats) –
„ attempted rape
a. With any weapon, such as a gun or knife
„ sexual assault other than rape or attempted rape
b. With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan,
scissors, or stick „ verbal threat of rape
c. By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle „ verbal threat of sexual assault other than rape
d. Include any grabbing, punching, or choking „ unwanted sexual contact with force (grabbing,
fondling, etc.)
e. Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of
sexual attack „ unwanted sexual contact without force (grabbing,
fondling, etc.).
f. Any face to face threats
If the victim selects one of the following response
OR
options to describe the attack, they are also classified as
g. Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at a victim of rape or sexual assault if the injuries suffered
all? Please mention it even if you are not certain as a result of the incident are described as—
it was a crime.
„ raped
2. Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual
„ attempted rape
acts are often difficult to talk about. (Other than
any incidents already mentioned,) have you been „ sexual assault other than rape or attempted rape.
forced or coerced to engage in unwanted sexual Coercion. The CIR does not ask respondents if
activity by— psychological coercion was used or make any explicit
a. Someone you didn’t know reference to the victim being unable to provide consent
(e.g., in incidents involving drug or alcohol use). One
b. A casual acquaintance
screening question targeted to rape and sexual assault
OR asks respondents if force or coercion was used to
initiate unwanted sexual activity.
c. Someone you know well?
With regard to sexual victimization, respondents may
screen into a CIR if they respond affirmatively to other Classification of rape and sexual assault in the
National Crime Victimization Survey
short-cue screening questions. For instance, a separate
screening question cues respondents to think of attacks Measure Element of sexual violence
Completed rape Type of attack = rape
or threats that took place in specific locations, such as
Type of injury = rape
at home, work, or school. Respondents who recall a Attempted rape Type of attack = attempted rape
sexual victimization that occurred at home, work, or Type of injury = attempted rape
school and answer affirmatively would be administered Threatened rape Type of threat = verbal threat of rape with weapon
a CIR even if they did not respond affirmatively to the Type of attempted attack/threat = verbal threat
screening question targeting sexual victimization. of rape
Sexual assault Type of attack = sexual assault other than rape or
Second stage of measurement. The CIR is used to attempted rape
collect information on the attributes of each incident. Type of injury = sexual assault other than rape or
attempted rape
The key attributes of sexual violence that are used to
Type of attempted attack/threat = unwanted sexual
classify a victimization as a rape or sexual assault are contact with force
the type of attack and physical injury suffered. Victims Type of attempted attack/threat = unwanted sexual
are asked “Did the offender hit you, knock you down, contact without force
or actually attack you in any way?”; “…TRY to attack Type of attempted attack/threat = verbal threat of
sexual assault other than rape
you?”; or “…THREATEN you with harm in any way?” Note: A victim is determined to be present in all measures of rape and
The survey participant is classified as a victim of sexual assault.
rape or sexual assault if they respond affirmatively to Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization
Survey, 2020.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 13
The final classification of incidents by the CIR results Sample sizes
in the following definitions of rape and sexual assault
used in the NCVS: Persons age 16 or older who identify as sexual and
gender minorities make up a small portion of the U.S
Rape. Coerced or forced sexual intercourse. Forced population. (See appendix tables 9, 10, and 11.) Given
sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal, or oral that NCVS data are derived from a sample of persons,
penetration by the offender(s). This category could the relatively small sizes of certain population groups
include incidents where the penetration was with a compared to the overall U.S. population can pose
foreign object such as a bottle. It includes attempted measurement challenges. In addition, the relatively rare
rape, threatened rape, victims of any sex or gender, and occurrence of violent victimization in the population
incidents involving victims and offenders who are the can compound these measurement challenges, often
same sex or different sex or gender. leading to even smaller sample sizes for particular
Sexual assault. A wide range of victimizations, demographic groups, including sexual and gender
separate from rape, attempted rape, or threatened rape. minorities. Although 4 years of NCVS data were
These crimes include attacks or threatened attacks aggregated for this report, sample sizes remain small
involving unwanted sexual contact between the victim when examining sexual orientation and gender identity
and offender. Sexual assaults may or may not involve categories by crime type and other victim and incident
force and include such things as grabbing or fondling. characteristics. The statistical estimates for sexual
orientation and gender identity categories in this
Sexual orientation and gender identity data in report are shown at the most detailed level supportable
the NCVS by the quantity and reliability of the available data.

Population adjustments
Data collection
NCVS person weights provide an estimate of the
Sexual orientation and gender identity measures were U.S. population represented by each person in the
added to the NCVS demographic section in July 2016. sample. After proper adjustment, person weights are
Upon implementation, questions pertaining to sexual used to form the denominator in the calculation of
orientation and gender identity were administered crime rates. Because persons are interviewed every
to all respondents age 16 or older at their first, third, 6 months, NCVS data are weighted to represent the
fifth, and seventh interviews. If questions were not entire U.S. population age 12 or older during each
asked in a previous interview, they were asked at the 6-month period of the year (i.e., first and second
following interview. From July 2019 through December quarters, and third and fourth quarters). When
2021, administration of these items was restricted to reporting annual NCVS estimates, person weights are
victims age 16 or older. During this period, victims divided in half so as to not double the U.S. population
were asked these questions once while they were in age 12 or older for that year.
the sample. Beginning in January 2022 (OMB No.
1121-0111), these items have been administered to all
respondents age 16 or older at their first, third, fifth, Table 4
and seventh interviews or if they had not been asked Unweighted number and percent response to
the questions before. These items are not asked to gender identity confirmation item, 2017–20
proxy respondents. Unweighted number Percent
Total 1,680 100%
The NCVS sexual orientation question measures sexual 1 – Yes, correct 1,400 83.3
identity, which is how an individual self-identifies as 2 – No, not correct 150 8.9
lesbian, gay, bisexual, or straight. For gender identity, 3 – Refused 90 5.4
a two-step approach that asks questions about sex 4 – Don’t know 40 2.4
assigned at birth and current gender identity is Note: Unweighted counts are rounded according the U.S. Census
Bureau Disclosure Review Board Special Rounding Rules for unweighted
used. When the respondent’s current gender identity numbers. Unweighted percentages are calculated based on rounded
is different from their sex assigned at birth, the values. The U.S. Census Bureau reviewed this data product for
unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and approved the
NCVS uses a confirmation question to check for disclosure avoidance practices applied to this release. CBDRB-FY22-
potential coding errors. During 2017–20, about 9% of POP001-0078.
respondents who were asked this question indicated Source: U.S. Census Bureau internal interim processing data, National
Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.
that the information was incorrect, and the interviewer
fixed the recorded response (table 4).

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 14
Due to the changes in the universe of persons Appendix tables 9 through 11 present population
administered the sexual orientation and gender estimates by SOGI categories. Population totals in
identity items between July 2019 and December 2020 appendix tables 10 and 11 differ from population totals
(see Data collection), population estimates by sexual in appendix table 9. Respondents’ refusals to answer
orientation and gender identity for persons age 16 or the sexual orientation or gender identity questions
older are unavailable for this period. Adjustments were were classified as valid responses in appendix table 9.
applied to the available data to estimate the population Appendix tables 10 and 11 excluded these responses
of persons age 16 or older by sexual orientation and from the population totals.
gender identity for the third and fourth quarters of
2019 and all of 2020. Item nonresponse
Sexual orientation and gender identity data were Item nonresponse to the sexual orientation and gender
collected from all persons age 16 or older for the identity questions was low compared to other questions
first and second quarters of 2019. Therefore, NCVS in the NCVS. Less than 2% of respondents refused to
population estimates are available for this period. answer the sexual orientation question (table 5). This
These weighted population estimates were used nonresponse category combined with other missing
to represent the 2019 annual estimates. The 2020 responses to the sexual orientation question (i.e., “don’t
population data in this report were estimated using the know” and where respondents were eligible, or in-
percentage change in the NCVS population of persons universe, but had a missing response) accounted for
age 16 or older from 2019 to 2020. The population of 2.41% of all respondents age 16 or older. Less than 1%
persons age 16 or older increased 0.45% from 2019 of respondents refused to answer the gender identity
to 2020. An adjustment factor of 0.45% was applied questions. The refusal nonresponse category combined
and added to the 2019 sexual orientation and gender with other missing responses to the gender identity
identity estimates to approximate the expected increase questions accounted for 0.84% of all respondents
in these populations for 2020. The 2020 population age 16 or older. Comparatively, about 26% of NCVS
was calculated for each sexual orientation and gender respondents answered “don’t know” or refused to
identity (SOGI) category as follows: answer a question about household income.

( (
P=X+ X× A–B
B )
Table 5
Where— Percent of nonresponse to sexual orientation and
gender identity items, 2017–20
P = estimated 2020 population for persons age 16 or
Item Refusal nonresponse Total nonresponsea
older by each SOGI category Sexual orientation 1.91% 2.41%
X = weighted population for persons age 16 or older Gender identityb 0.52 0.84
aIncludes all nonresponse, including refusal, “don’t know,” and in-
by each SOGI category for first and second quarters universe missing (respondents that were eligible, or in-universe, but had
of 2019 a missing response).
bIncludes combined responses to sex assigned at birth and current gender
A = weighted population for all persons age 16 or identity questions. Nonresponse is based on sex assigned at birth question.
older in 2020 Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
2017–20.
B = weighted population for all persons age 16 or
older in 2019.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 15
Appendix Table 1
Rates and standard errors for figure 1: Rate of violent victimization, by sexual
orientation and gender identity, 2017–20
Rate per 1,000
persons age 16 95% confidence interval
Sexual orientation/gender identity or older Standard error Lower bound Upper bound
Sexual orientation
Lesbian/gay 43.5 † 4.40 34.9 52.2
Bisexual 129.1 † 10.25 109.0 149.2
Something elsea 106.2 † 14.91 77.0 135.5
Straight* 19.0 0.67 17.7 20.3
Gender identity
Transgenderb 51.5 † 13.33 25.4 77.7
Cisgenderc 20.5 0.70 19.1 21.9
Note: Violent victimization includes threatened, attempted, and completed occurrences of rape or sexual assault,
robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. See Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity in the
National Crime Victimization Survey. See appendix table 9 for populations.
*Comparison group.
†Difference with comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence level.
aIncluded as a response option for the sexual orientation question in the NCVS. Write-in responses are not
collected for this category. Therefore, additional information about what is included in this category is unknown.
bAn individual whose gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth. Includes respondents who
reported identifying as transgender (54% of all transgender persons) or as a gender different from their sex
assigned at birth (46%).
cAn individual whose gender identity is the same as their sex assigned at birth.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Appendix Table 2
Confidence intervals for table 1: Rate of violent victimization, by sexual orientation and type of crime,
2017–20
95% confidence interval
Lesbian/gay Bisexual Straight
Type of crime Lower bound Upper bound Lower bound Upper bound Lower bound Upper bound
Violent crime 34.92 52.16 109.05 149.24 17.67 20.31
Rape/sexual assault 1.27 4.91 19.33 35.91 1.29 1.76
Robbery 3.38 9.39 9.17 22.31 1.53 2.11
Assault 26.58 41.56 69.62 101.93 14.49 16.80
Aggravated assault 2.40 7.60 9.74 23.12 3.01 3.89
Simple assault 21.92 36.21 54.32 84.37 11.17 13.22
Violent crime excluding simple assault 9.85 19.10 46.29 73.30 6.12 7.46
Selected characteristics of violent crime
Domestic violence 6.59 13.94 23.08 41.52 3.69 4.62
Intimate partner violence 1.44 5.33 13.70 28.04 2.19 2.85
Stranger violence 17.41 29.34 42.48 67.50 6.86 8.26
Violent crime involving injury 7.03 14.62 25.89 45.41 3.74 4.68
Violent crime involving a weapon 4.71 11.00 14.62 29.41 3.73 4.67
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 16
Appendix Table 3
Number of violent victimizations for table 1, by sexual orientation and type of crime, 2017–20
95% confidence interval
Lesbian/gay Bisexual Straight
Number Standard error Lower Upper Lower Upper Lower Upper
Type of crime Lesbian/gay Bisexual Straight* Lesbian/gay Bisexual Straight bound bound bound bound bound bound
Violent crimea 567,960 † 888,600 † 17,380,220 61,488 82,215 618,844 447,446 688,478 727,461 1,049,743 16,167,286 18,593,154
Rape/sexual assaultb 40,290 † 190,060 † 1,396,890 12,190 30,426 109,011 16,400 64,184 130,424 249,694 1,183,228 1,610,552
Robbery 83,270 † 108,320 † 1,665,630 20,313 23,731 134,245 43,461 123,087 61,803 154,829 1,402,514 1,928,754
Assault 444,400 † 590,230 † 14,317,700 52,806 63,328 544,212 340,895 547,895 466,103 714,349 13,251,040 15,384,352
Aggravated assault 65,220 † 113,070 † 3,155,710 17,492 24,186 205,249 30,935 99,505 65,664 160,472 2,753,424 3,557,998
Simple assault 379,180 † 477,160 † 11,161,990 50,042 57,907 480,480 281,092 477,258 363,659 590,657 10,220,245 12,103,725
Violent crime excluding simple assaultc 188,790 † 411,440 † 6,218,240 31,703 51,505 313,931 126,649 250,925 310,494 512,394 5,602,931 6,833,539
Selected characteristics of violent crime
Domestic violenced 133,870 † 222,240 † 3,805,190 25,008 34,049 217,892 84,855 182,889 155,498 288,972 3,378,119 4,232,255
Intimate partner violencee 44,200 † 143,600 † 2,306,330 13,063 26,088 155,096 18,592 69,800 92,468 194,732 2,002,339 2,610,315
Stranger violence 304,960 † 378,370 † 6,917,880 41,442 47,460 328,237 223,729 386,181 285,346 471,390 6,274,538 7,561,228
Violent crime involving injury 141,200 † 245,310 † 3,851,310 25,824 36,192 219,691 90,582 191,812 174,371 316,243 3,420,712 4,281,900
Violent crime involving a weapon 102,430 † 151,480 † 3,844,540 21,311 26,944 219,427 60,659 144,197 98,668 204,288 3,414,460 4,274,616
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding and missing data. Estimates include persons age 16 or older. Categories of violent crime include threatened, attempted, and completed occurrences of rape
or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. See Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity in the National Crime Victimization Survey. Estimates for persons who identified as
“something else” are not shown due to the small number of sample cases.
*Comparison group.
†Difference with comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence level.
aExcludes homicide because the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is based on interviews with victims.
bSee Methodology for details on the measurement of rape or sexual assault in the NCVS.
cIncludes rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault.
dIncludes the subset of violent victimizations that were committed by intimate partners or family members.
eIncludes the subset of violent victimizations that were committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, or girlfriends.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Violent Vic timization by S exual O rientation and G ender Identit y, 2017–2020 | June 2022  17
Appendix Table 4
Confidence intervals for table 2: Rate of violent
victimization, by gender identity and type of
crime, 2017–20
95% confidence interval
Transgender Cisgender
Lower Upper Lower Upper
Type of crime bound bound bound bound
Violent crime 25.39 77.65 19.12 21.86
Violent crime excluding
simple assault 3.16 34.82 6.74 8.15
Simple assault 10.96 54.10 11.99 14.11
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
2017–20.

Appendix Table 5
Number of violent victimizations for table 2, by gender identity and type of crime, 2017–20
95% confidence interval
Number Standard error Transgender Cisgender
Type of crime Transgendera Cisgender*b Transgender Cisgender Lower bound Upper bound Lower bound Upper bound
Violent crimec 53,100 † 19,563,300 14,513 671,162 24,656 81,548 18,247,818 20,878,772
Violent crime excluding
simple assaultd 19,570 † 7,104,320 8,509 344,043 2,896 36,252 6,429,991 7,778,641
Simple assault 33,530 † 12,458,980 11,759 518,275 10,480 56,576 11,443,160 13,474,798
Note: Estimates include persons age 16 or older. Categories of violent victimization include threatened, attempted, and completed occurrences of rape
or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault.
*Comparison group.
†Difference with comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence level.
aAn individual whose gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth. Includes respondents who reported identifying as transgender (54%
of all transgender persons) or as a gender different from their sex assigned at birth (46%). See Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity in
the National Crime Victimization Survey.
bAn individual whose gender identity is the same as their sex assigned at birth.
cExcludes homicide because the National Crime Victimization Survey is based on interviews with victims.
dIncludes rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Appendix Table 6
Violent victimizations, by population, sexual orientation, and gender identity, 2017–20
Victimization-to-
Number of violent Percent of Percent of violent population ratio
Sexual orientation/gender identity Population victimizationsa population victimizationsa of percentages
Sexual orientationb
Lesbian/gay 13,044,640 567,960 1.39% 3.02% 2.2
Bisexual 6,880,800 888,600 0.73 4.72 6.4
Straight 915,151,140 17,380,220 97.32 92.27 0.9
Gender identity
Transgenderc 1,030,730 53,100 0.11% 0.27% 2.5
Cisgenderd 954,777,240 19,563,300 99.77 99.73 1.0
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding and missing data. Estimates include persons age 16 or older. Population estimates exclude
refused and in-universe missing, that is, respondents who were eligible, or in-universe, but had a missing response. During 2017–20, 2.44% of all
persons age 16 or older refused to answer the sexual orientation question and 0.64% refused to answer the gender identity questions. Data on sexual
orientation were missing for 0.20%, and data on gender identity were missing for 0.28% of all persons age 16 or older.
aCategories of violent crime include threatened, attempted, and completed occurrences of rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and
simple assault. About 10% of persons experienced multiple violent victimizations during this period and therefore may be counted more than once.
bSee Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity in the National Crime Victimization Survey. Estimates for persons who identified as
“something else” are not shown due to the small number of sample cases.
cAn individual whose gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth. Includes respondents who reported identifying as transgender (54%
of all transgender persons) or as with a gender different from their sex assigned at birth (46%).
dAn individual whose gender identity is the same as their sex assigned at birth.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 18
Appendix Table 7 Appendix Table 8
Confidence intervals for table 3: Rate of violent Estimates and standard errors for figure 2:
victimization, by sexual orientation and Percent of violent victimizations reported to
demographic characteristics, 2017–20 police, by sexual orientation, 2017–20
95% confidence interval 95% confidence interval
Lesbian/gay Bisexual Straight Standard Lower Upper
Demographic Lower Upper Lower Upper Lower Upper Sexual orientation Percent error bound bound
characteristic bound bound bound bound bound bound Lesbian/gay 58.2% † 4.38 49.66 66.83
Total 34.92 52.16 109.05 149.23 17.67 20.31 Bisexual 30.8 † 3.30 24.35 37.28
Sex Straight* 45.1 1.29 42.59 47.63
Male 28.32 48.19 40.96 87.96 17.13 20.35 Note: Estimates include persons age 16 or older. Estimates for persons
Female 37.52 62.98 126.99 175.48 17.62 20.83 who identified as “something else” are not shown due to the small
number of sample cases. Violent victimization includes threatened,
Race/Hispanic origin attempted, and completed occurrences of rape or sexual assault,
White 38.34 59.66 107.10 154.59 17.67 20.69 robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. See Measurement of
Black 10.63 42.47 54.71 138.04 16.01 20.89 sexual orientation and gender identity in the National Crime Victimization
Survey.
Hispanic/Latino 14.56 43.54 70.41 145.23 15.90 20.25
*Comparison group.
Other 20.84 78.02 130.92 255.50 17.23 23.06 †Difference with comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence
Age level.
16–17 0.00 71.87 42.33 118.00 17.77 26.57 Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
18–24 22.88 59.09 162.93 234.45 29.17 36.47 2017–20.
25–34 60.58 102.15 68.58 125.81 21.47 26.64
35–49 18.65 42.73 73.81 154.65 18.86 23.12
50–64 17.43 40.91 14.52 82.10 15.55 19.30
65 or older 6.36 37.60 0.00 40.11 5.17 7.19
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
2017–20.

Appendix Table 9
Population of persons age 16 or older, by sexual orientation and gender identity, 2017–20
Sexual orientation/ Number of persons age 16 or older Percent of persons age 16 or older
gender identity 2017 2018 2019a 2020a 2017–20a 2017 2018 2019a 2020a 2017–20a
Total 240,132,640 240,634,920 241,017,460 242,104,360 963,889,380 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Sexual orientation
Lesbian/gay 3,168,030 3,237,550 3,312,070 3,327,000 13,044,640 1.32% 1.35% 1.37% 1.37% 1.35%
Bisexual 1,579,150 1,640,540 1,826,440 1,834,670 6,880,800 0.66 0.68 0.76 0.76 0.71
Something elseb 497,250 442,980 506,290 508,570 1,955,080 0.21 0.18 0.21 0.21 0.20
Straight 227,548,630 228,641,590 228,964,190 229,996,730 915,151,140 94.76 95.02 95.00 95.00 94.94
Don’t know 812,560 752,600 872,800 876,740 3,314,710 0.34 0.31 0.36 0.36 0.34
Refused 6,527,030 5,919,660 5,535,680 5,560,640 23,543,010 2.72 2.46 2.30 2.30 2.44
Gender identity
Transgenderc 272,140 213,230 272,070 273,290 1,030,730 0.11% 0.09% 0.11% 0.11% 0.11%
Cisgenderd 237,322,020 238,297,260 239,039,990 240,117,970 954,777,240 98.92 99.10 99.25 99.25 99.13
None of these 229,650 172,380 218,860 219,840 840,720 0.10 0.07 0.09 0.09 0.09
Don’t know 178,740 76,470 60,050 60,320 375,580 0.07 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.04
Refused 1,917,210 1,709,230 1,266,180 1,271,890 6,164,510 0.80 0.71 0.53 0.53 0.64
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding and missing data. Estimates exclude in-universe missing, that is, respondents who were eligible,
or in-universe, but had a missing response. During 2017–20, data on sexual orientation were missing for 0.20% and data on gender identity were
missing for 0.28% of all persons age 16 or older.
aDue to changes in the administration of the sexual orientation and gender identity items in the NCVS, the 2019 population was estimated as the
population for persons age 16 or older in the first and second quarters of the year. The 2020 population was adjusted using the first and second
quarters of 2019. See Methodology.
bIncluded as a response option for the sexual orientation question in the NCVS. Write-in responses are not collected for this category. Therefore,
additional information about what is included in this category is unknown.
cAn individual whose gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth. Includes respondents who reported identifying as transgender (54%
of all transgender persons) or as a gender different from their sex assigned at birth (46%). See Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity in
the National Crime Victimization Survey.
dAn individual whose gender identity is the same as their sex assigned at birth.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 19
Appendix Table 10
Population of persons age 16 or older, by sexual orientation and demographic characteristics, 2017–20
Demographic Number of persons age 16 or older Percent of persons age 16 or older
characteristic Lesbian/gay Bisexual Something elsea Straight Don’t know Lesbian/gay Bisexual Something else Straight Don’t know
Total 13,044,640 6,880,800 1,955,080 915,151,140 3,314,710 1.39% 0.73% 0.21% 97.32% 0.35%
Sexb,c
Male 7,297,450 1,751,730 783,620 441,481,580 1,383,330 1.61% 0.39% 0.17% 97.52% 0.31%
Female 5,747,190 5,129,070 1,171,460 473,669,570 1,931,370 1.18 1.05 0.24 97.13 0.40
Race/Hispanic originb
Whited 8,837,100 4,432,200 1,268,660 578,881,730 1,765,700 1.48% 0.74% 0.21% 97.26% 0.30%
Blackd 1,426,450 738,610 183,510 109,637,860 460,840 1.27 0.66 0.16 97.50 0.41
Hispanic/Latino 1,982,550 1,087,890 258,930 150,942,000 587,380 1.28 0.70 0.17 97.47 0.38
Otherd 798,550 622,100 243,980 75,689,550 500,780 1.03 0.80 0.31 97.22 0.64
Asian/Native Hawaiian
or Other Pacific
Islanderd 489,870 285,730 141,990 58,363,560 398,690 0.82 0.48 0.24 97.79 0.67
American Indian or
Alaska Native/persons
of two or more racesd 308,680 336,370 101,990 17,325,990 102,090 1.70 1.85 0.56 95.33 0.56
Agea
16–17 214,990 744,790 142,260 27,316,650 269,290 0.75% 2.60% 0.50% 95.22% 0.94%
18–24 1,823,880 2,570,880 451,690 99,336,110 619,240 1.74 2.45 0.43 94.78 0.59
25–34 3,237,960 1,837,070 489,230 157,696,410 485,180 1.98 1.12 0.30 96.31 0.30
35–49 3,302,840 968,580 323,110 221,595,440 547,840 1.46 0.43 0.14 97.73 0.24
50–64 3,281,150 534,030 358,680 225,998,930 696,810 1.42 0.23 0.16 97.89 0.30
65 or older 1,183,820 225,450 190,110 183,207,610 696,340 0.64 0.12 0.10 98.76 0.38
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding and missing data. Estimates exclude refused and in-universe missing, that is, respondents who were eligible, or in-universe, but had a missing response.
During 2017–20, data on sexual orientation were missing for 0.20% of all persons age 16 or older and 2.44% refused to answer the question. Percentages in this table do not match those in appendix table 9
because refusals were excluded from this table.
aIncluded as a response option for the sexual orientation question in the NCVS. Write-in responses are not collected for this category. Therefore, additional information about what is included in this category
is unknown.
bBased on data collected on the household roster for the sampled household.
cThis measure asks the household respondent to identify each person living in the household as male or female.
dExcludes persons of Hispanic/Latino origin (e.g., “white” refers to non-Hispanic white persons and “Black” refers to non-Hispanic Black persons).
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Violent Vic timization by S exual O rientation and G ender Identit y, 2017–2020 | June 2022  20
Appendix Table 11
Population of persons age 16 or older, by gender identity and demographic characteristics, 2017–20
Number of persons age 16 or older Percent of persons age 16 or older
Demographic characteristic Transgendera Cisgenderb None of these Don’t know Transgendera Cisgenderb None of these Don’t know
Total 1,030,730 954,777,240 840,720 375,580 0.11% 99.77% 0.09% 0.04%
Race/Hispanic originc
Whited 647,920 604,631,360 505,890 235,540 0.11% 99.77% 0.08% 0.04%
Blackd 100,880 114,597,800 78,660 49,480 0.09 99.80 0.07 0.04
Hispanic/Latino 184,710 156,450,530 122,920 54,180 0.12 99.77 0.08 0.03
Otherd 97,220 79,097,550 133,260 36,390 0.12 99.66 0.17 0.05
Asian/Native Hawaiian
or Other Pacific
Islanderd 39,680 60,762,330 86,410 34,940 0.07 99.74 0.14 0.06
American Indian or
Alaska Native/persons
of two or more racesd 57,540 18,335,220 46,850 1,450 ! 0.31 99.43 0.25 0.01 !
Age
16–17 90,430 28,915,070 40,310 7,490 ! 0.31% 99.52% 0.14% 0.03% !
18–24 216,870 106,021,610 140,960 26,970 0.20 99.64 0.13 0.03
25–34 271,730 165,987,440 198,800 67,270 0.16 99.68 0.12 0.04
35–49 206,960 229,973,150 155,500 87,620 0.09 99.80 0.07 0.04
50–64 139,040 235,035,540 176,750 76,640 0.06 99.83 0.08 0.03
65 or older 105,710 188,844,440 128,400 109,590 0.06 99.82 0.07 0.06
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding. Estimates exclude refused and in-universe missing, that is, respondents who were eligible, or
in-universe, but had a missing response. During 2017–20, data on gender identity were missing for 0.28% of all persons age 16 or older and 0.64%
refused to answer the questions. Percentages in this table do not match appendix table 9 because refusals were excluded from this table.
! Interpret data with caution. Estimate is based on 10 or fewer sample cases.
aAn individual whose gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth. Includes respondents who reported identifying as transgender
(54% of all transgender persons) or as a gender different from their sex assigned at birth (46%). See Measurement of sexual orientation and gender identity
in the National Crime Victimization Survey.
bAn individual whose gender identity is the same as their sex assigned at birth.
cBased on data collected on the household roster for the sampled household.
dExcludes persons of Hispanic/Latino origin (e.g., “white” refers to non-Hispanic white persons and “Black” refers to non-Hispanic Black persons).
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–20.

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020 | June 2022 21
The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice is the
principal federal agency responsible for measuring crime, criminal
victimization, criminal offenders, victims of crime, correlates of crime,
and the operation of criminal and civil justice systems at the federal, state,
tribal, and local levels. BJS collects, analyzes, and disseminates reliable
statistics on crime and justice systems in the United States, supports
improvements to state and local criminal justice information systems, and
participates with national and international organizations to develop and
recommend national standards for justice statistics. Doris J. James is the
acting director.
This report was written by Jennifer L. Truman and Rachel E. Morgan.
Lauren G. Beatty provided substantive input and review. Erika Harrell and
Stephanie Mueller verified the report.
David Fialkoff, Eric Hendrixson, and Edrienne Su edited the report. Carrie
Epps-Carey produced the report.
June 2022, NCJ 304277

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