Corrective Rape: Sexual Violence Motivated by Anti-LGBTQ+ Prejudice

For example, an offender may falsely believe that sexual violence can make:

• a lesbian womanheterosexual;
• a bisexual person stop same-sex relationships;
• a transgender person conform to an assigned gender role;
• a gender-nonconforming person behave in a more socially expected way.

These beliefs have no legitimate medical or psychological basis.

The violence is about coercion, control, punishment, and prejudice—not correction.

For this reason, writers sometimes use expressions such as:

• so-called corrective rape;
• rape motivated by sexual-orientation prejudice;
• rape motivated by gender-identity prejudice.

Using so-called can make clear that there is nothing genuinely corrective about sexual violence.

The term remains useful because it identifies a particular form of prejudice-motivated sexual violence in which the victim is targeted because of perceived sexuality or gender.

A person may be targeted because they are perceived as:

• lesbian;
• gay;
• bisexual;
• transgender;
• nonbinary;
• gender-nonconforming.

Actual identity is not always relevant. Someone may be attacked simply because an offender assumes or labels them as belonging to one of these groups.

This shows why prejudice based on perceived sexual orientation or gender identity can be harmful even when the assumption is inaccurate.

Sexual consent must be voluntary and cannot be created through:

• force;
• threats;
• intimidation;
• coercion;
• fear;
• abuse of power.

A person does not need to physically resist for rape or sexual assault to occur.

Freezing, becoming unable to respond, or not fighting back does not mean consent was given.

A person’s sexual orientation, clothing, gender expression, relationships, or previous sexual experiences never justify sexual violence.

However, they are not identical.

Conversion practices may include psychological, religious, behavioral, or other interventions intended to change or suppress sexuality or gender.

Corrective rape specifically involves sexual violence used with a claimed “corrective” purpose.

Both rely on the harmful idea that certain sexual orientations or gender identities need to be changed.

The violence may be connected to beliefs about:

• how women should behave;
• heterosexuality as the only acceptable orientation;
• masculinity and femininity;
• gender conformity;
• social control of sexuality.

For example, a lesbian woman may be targeted because an offender believes she must be punished for rejecting heterosexual expectations.

A transgender or gender-nonconforming person may similarly be targeted because they are seen as violating gender norms.

Possible effects can include:

• physical injury;
• STI exposure;
• pregnancy risk where biologically possible;
• fear or anxiety;
• trauma-related distress;
• difficulty trusting others;
• avoidance of healthcare or public spaces.

Experiences vary widely. There is no single way that a survivor is expected to react.

Some people may seek medical care, counseling, legal assistance, community support, or a combination of these.

Support should respect the survivor’s privacy, identity, choices, and pace.

Survivors may fear:

• discrimination;
• being outed;
• family rejection;
• police mistreatment;
• retaliation;
• community stigma;
• not being believed.

LGBTQ+ survivors may face the additional burden of explaining their sexual orientation or gender identity while reporting sexual violence.

Transgender survivors may also encounter misgendering or inappropriate treatment within healthcare or justice systems.

These barriers can make inclusive and confidential services especially important.

Depending on individual circumstances, care may involve:

• treatment of injuries;
• STI assessment and prevention;
• pregnancy-related care where relevant;
• emotional or psychological support;
• referrals to additional services.

Healthcare professionals should avoid blaming the survivor or treating sexual orientation or gender identity as the cause of the assault.

The responsibility lies with the offender who committed the violence.

Survivors should also be given understandable information and meaningful choices about available care.

Corrective rape may sometimes be treated under:

• rape laws;
• sexual-assault laws;
• hate-crime or bias-motivated-crime provisions;
• anti-discrimination protections.

Not every legal system uses the term corrective rape as a separate offense.

From a human-rights perspective, the practice raises serious concerns involving:

• bodily integrity;
• equality;
• freedom from violence;
• sexual autonomy;
• non-discrimination.

Prevention may involve:

• challenging homophobia and transphobia;
• improving sexual-consent education;
• training healthcare and justice professionals;
• protecting survivors from discrimination;
• providing confidential support services;
• rejecting myths that sexuality or gender can be changed through force.

Community attitudes matter because violence can be encouraged when prejudice is normalized or survivors are blamed.

Respect for sexual and gender diversity is therefore part of prevention.

The victim’s identity caused the assault.
No. Responsibility belongs to the person who committed the violence.

Only lesbian women can experience corrective rape.
No. Other LGBTQ+ and gender-nonconforming people may also be targeted.

Corrective rape is the same as conversion therapy.
No. They may share a coercive goal, but corrective rape specifically involves sexual violence.

A person must physically resist for the act to count as rape.
No. Lack of resistance does not equal consent.

The term means the violence is actually corrective.
No. The term describes a claimed motive based on prejudice, not a valid outcome.

1. Corrective rape is sexual violence motivated by an attempt to punish or change someone’s perceived sexuality or gender.
2. There is nothing genuinely corrective about corrective rape.
3. Lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming people may be targeted by this form of violence.
4. Corrective rape is fundamentally a violation of consent and bodily autonomy.
5. Survivors may face additional barriers to reporting because of stigma or fear of being outed.
6. Sexual orientation cannot be changed through sexual violence.
7. Survivor-centered healthcare should respect identity, confidentiality, and choice.
8. Understanding corrective rape helps connect sexual violence, prejudice, consent, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender-based violence.

The violence may be driven by homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, rigid gender roles, or attempts to control sexual behavior.

An inclusive approach recognizes corrective rape as sexual violence rather than as a response to the victim’s identity. Prevention and support require respect for consent, bodily autonomy, sexual and gender diversity, survivor privacy, and freedom from discrimination.