LGBTQ+ Community

USF strives to ensure that all individuals are safe, included, and respected in their working and learning environments, regardless of their gender identity or expression, including intersex, nonbinary, transgender, agender, two-spirit, and gender-diverse students and employees.

Discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender identity or expression are not tolerated by USF. If a member of the USF community believes they have been subjected to discrimination under this Policy, they should submit a report here.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community, or someone who does not identify as LGBTQ+ but experiences a same-sex sexual assault, can face some unique obstacles when seeking assistance after a sexual assault, including:

• Having to “out” themselves or their assailant
• Being asked to explain the assault in detail
• Fear of having the assault downplayed or viewed as not a “real” assault
• Fear of being blamed for the assault or perceived as “deserving” it
• Fear about being mistakenly perceived as the assailant
• Worries about perpetuating negative stereotypes of the LGBTQ+ community
• Fear of creating a rift in a local LGBTQ+ community if people “take sides”
• Concerns about homophobia from legal and medical personnel
• Fear of questions about one’s sexual identity

The issues listed above are very real concerns that members of the LGBTQ+ community might face. There are many people and offices on the USF campus and organizations in the local community to help with recovery and support. See the Resources tab for more information.