Sexual Violence Among Gay and Bisexual Men – an Exploration

Sexual violence remains an issue that pervasively shapes gender relations. Yet, its role in the lives of gay and bisexual men and thus their specific entanglement within gender relations has received limited scholarly attention. This presentation explores the part that sexual violence may play in gay and bisexual masculinities and life courses. This investigation promises unique insights into broader questions of gender relations and the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative studies, this presentation reviews the state of existing research while introducing preliminary findings from a dissertation project based on biographical interviews with gay and bisexual men. Early results suggest a heightened vulnerability to sexual violence at critical points in life, particularly around the time of coming out, first interactions with other gay men, and initial sexual experiences. They will be presented in the form of short case studies, which demonstrate that the experiences of discrimination and concealment during youth and adolescence exacerbate this vulnerability, making young men more susceptible to predatory behavior.

By examining these biographical trajectories, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of how sexual violence impacts gay and bisexual men and sheds light on the ways in which heteronormativity entangles violence, gender and sexuality.