STALKING & LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS:

FACT SHEET
STALKING
Generally, research shows that LGBTQ+FACT SHEET
• Transgender and nonbinary/genderqueer student stalking
victims (33%) were more likely than cisgender student victims
individuals are more likely than heterosexual (28% ciswomen, 29% cismen) to contact a program or resource
and cisgender individuals to experience stalking. for help.F
• Since entering college, 1 in 4 of sexual minority students
What is stalking? While legal definitions of stalking (lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, queer, other not listed) report
vary from one jurisdiction to another, a good working ***experiencing stalking,
Source: Katrina Baum compared
et al., “Stalking to 1 inin6the
Victimization ofUnited
heterosexual
States,”

WHAT IS STALKING?
definition of stalking is: a pattern of behavior directed students.
(Washington,
G DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009).

?? at a specific
While legalperson thatof would
definitions stalkingcause
person to fear for their safety or the safety is:
to another, a good working definition of
a reasonable
vary from one jurisdiction
stalking ofaothers,
course or
• Among college students, bisexual and pansexual women
IMPACT OF STALKING
are significantly more likely ONto VICTIMS
experience stalking than
of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a
• heterosexual
46% of stalking victims fear
women, and gay men not knowing what will happen
are significantly morenext.
likely
sufferreasonable
substantial emotional distress. Stalking is a crime
person to feel fear. • to29% of stalking victims fear the stalking will never
H stop.
experience stalking than heterosexual men.
under the laws of 50 states, the District of Columbia, • 1 in 8 employed stalking victims lose time from work as a result
the U.S. VICTIMIZATION
STALKING Territories, and the Federal government. IMPACT OF STALKING
of their victimization and moreON VICTIMS
than half lose 5 days of work
• An estimated 6-7.5 million people are stalked in a one year • 46% or more.
of stalking victims fear not knowing what will happen next.I
period in the United States. • 29% ofstalking
• 1 in 7 stalking victims
victims movefearasthea result of their
stalking victimization.
will never stop.J
• Nearly 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking • ****13% of stalking victims lose time from work due to fear or concern
What does LGBTQ+ stand for? LGBTQ+ is
victimization at some point in their lifetime. for
Source: Katrina Baum
safety, 12%
(Washington, DC: lose
et al., “Stalking
Bureautime
Victimization
fromStatistics,
of Justice work due
in the United States,”
to getting a protection
2009).
an acronym
• Using used as andefinition
a less conservative umbrella of term forwhich
stalking, a range of
considers order or testifying in court, and more than half lose 5 days of work
sexual
any minority
amount of fearand(i.e.,gender non-conforming
a little fearful, identities:
somewhat fearful, or • StalkingKvictims suffer much higher rates of depression,
or more.
Lesbian,
very Gay,
fearful), 1 inBisexual
4 women (referring to sexual
and 1 in 13 men reportedorientation);
being a anxiety, insomnia, and social dysfunction than people in the L
• 11% of stalking victims move as a result of their victimization.
?
general population.
Transgender,
victim of stalkingQueer
in their(referring
lifetime. to gender identity); and • Stalking victims suffer much higher rates of depression, anxiety,
• About
the plus sign at the endstalking
half of all victims of expands indicated that theytowere
the acronym include ****Source:
insomnia, Eric Blauuw et al., “The
and social Toll of Stalking,”
dysfunction than Journal
people of Interpersonal Violence, 17,
in the general
stalked before the age of 25. no. 1 (2002):50-63.
additional sexual orientations and gender identities* not population. M
• Stalkers use many tactics including:
specifically listed. • STALKING
LGBTQ+ individuals
OFFENDERS have higher rates of mental health
Approaching the victim or showing up in places when the victim
*Sexual orientation is an issues when compared
• 2/3 of stalkers pursue their to heterosexual,
victims at least cisgender
once perindividuals,
week, many
didn’t want them to be enduring emotional,
there; making romantic,
unwanted sexual, or calls;
telephone
affectional attraction toward others. Gender identity is the psychological which researchers
daily, using more thanbelieveone stem
method. from stigma, prejudice, and
leaving the victim unwanted messages (text or voice); watching or
sense of one’s gender or lack thereof. • discrimination
78% of stalkersthat use heighten
more thanstress one means
levelsof andapproach.
predisposes them
following the victim from a distance, or spying on the victim with
• to Weapons are used to
adverse health outcomes. harm orNthreaten victims in 1 out of 5 cases.
a listening device, camera, or GPS.
LGBTQ+ STALKING VICTIMIZATION • Almost 1/3 of stalkers have stalked before.
•Marginalization:
Intimate partner stalkers frequently
LGBTQ+ approach their
individuals havetargets,
historically
• *1 inSource for the above
3 bisexual stats: Smith,
women, 1 in 5S.G., Zhang,women,
lesbian X., Basile, K.C.,
andMerrick,
1 in 6 M.T., Wang,
J., Kresnow, M., Chen, J. (2018). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence and their behaviors escalate quickly.
heterosexual women have experienced stalking victimization
Survey (NISVS): 2015 Data Brief. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention in faced—and continue to face—stigma, prejudice,
their lifetimes.
and Control, A for Disease Control and Prevention.
Centers discrimination,
****Source: Kris Mohandieviolence, and a Typology
et al.,“The RECON lack ofofunderstanding
Stalking: Reliability and
Validity Based upon a Large Sample of North American Stalkers,” Journal of Forensic
• 1 in 9 gay men, 1 in 14 bisexual men, and 1 in 20 heterosexual inSciences,
daily life
51, no.and when accessing services. They often
1 (2006).
•men Thehave
majority of stalking
experienced victimsvictimization
stalking are stalked byinsomeone they B
their lifetimes. experience a hostile and stressful environment. Listening,
know. Many victims are stalked by a current
• Among 18-24-year-olds after high school: Nearly 1 in 2 lesbian or former intimate
partner, or white
by an acquaintance. being open,LAWS
STALKING and treating victims with respect is essential.O
and bisexual women; More than 2 in 5 gay and bisexual • Stalking is a crime under the laws of 50 states, the District of
•white
Peoplemen and18-24
aged men of have the highest
color; Nearly rate
2 in of stalkingand
5 lesbian victimization.
bisexual Columbia, theOFFENDERS
STALKING U.S. Territories, and the Federal government.
women of color experience stalking victimization. C
** Source for the above stats: Catalano, S., Smith, E., Snyder, H. & Rand, M. (2009). • Less than 1/3 of states classify stalking as a felony upon first
• The majority of stalking victims are stalked by someone they
• Active
Bureauduty service
of Justice members
Statistics identifying
selected findings: as LGBT
Female victims are Retrieved
of violence. offense.
fromtimes
http://www.bjs. gov/content/pub/pdf/fvv.pdf. know. Many victims are stalked by a current or former intimate
four more likely than non-LGBT service members • More than 1/2 of states classify stalking as a felony upon second
partner, or by an acquaintance.P
to experience sexual harassment, two times more likely to or subsequent offense or when the crime involves aggravating
•experience
Almost half of stalking • For sexual minority college students, the stalker was most likely
stalking, andvictims
two times experience
more likelyat least one unwanted
to experience factors.
contact per week. to be an acquaintance,
• Aggravating factors mayneighbor, coworker, of
include: possession oraroommate. Q
deadly weapon,
sexual assault. D
• 11% of stalking victims have been stalked for 5 years or more. • 64% of stalkers
violation pursue
of a court ordertheir victims at
or condition of least once per week,
probation/parole, victim
LGBTQ+ STALKING
• 1 in 4 victims VICTIMIZATION
report being stalked through the useON
of some form many daily, using more than one method. R
under 16 years, or same victim as prior occasions.
of technology
COLLEGE CAMPUSES (such as e-mail or instant messaging). • 78% of stalkers use more than one means of approach.S
• •Among
10% ofundergraduate
victims report being monitored
students, with global positioning
1 in 7 transgender and • 19% of stalkers use a weapon to threaten and/or harm their
systems (GPS), and 8% report being monitored through video victims.T
nonbinary/genderqueer and 1 in 10 female reported
or digital cameras, or listening devices. • 31% of stalkers have stalked before.U
experiencing stalking, compared to 1 in 17 of all students.E

This project was supported by Grant No. 2017-TA-AX-K074 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings,
conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department
of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
STALKING PREVENTION, AWARENESS,
AND RESOURCE CENTER 1100 H
1000 Street Avenue
Vermont NW, Suite
NW,310 | Washington
Suite DC 20005
1010 | Washington, | (202)
DC 20005 558-0040
| (202) | stalkingawareness.org
558-0040 | stalkingawareness.org
@FollowUsLegally
 STALKING & LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS:
FACT SHEET

SOURCES STALKING FACT SHEET

A
Chen, J., Walters, M. L., Gilbert, L. K., & Patel, N. (2020). Sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence by sexual orientation, United States. Psychology of Violence,
10(1), 110–119.
B
Ibid
C
Brady, P.Q., Reyns, B. W., Landhuis, J. (2021). APPlied stalking: Examining whether physical and/or technology-facilitated stalking influences stalking acknowledgement and victims’
decision to report to the police. Submitted for publication.
*** Source: Katrina Baum et al., “Stalking Victimization in the United States,”

WHAT IS STALKING?
Schuyler, A. C., Klemmer, C., Mamey, M. R., Schrager, S. M., Goldbach, J. T., Holloway, I. W., &(Washington,
Castro, C. A.DC:
(2020). Experiences
of Justice of Sexual Harassment, Stalking, and Sexual
D
Bureau Statistics, 2009).
Assault During Military Service Among LGBT and Non-LGBT Service Members. Journal of traumatic stress, 33(3), 257-266.
E

F
? Cantor, D.,While
Ibid
legal definitions
et al. (2020). Report on of
thestalking vary from
AAU Climate Surveyone jurisdiction
on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct.
to another, a good working definition of stalking is: a course
of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a
IMPACTWestat.
OF STALKING ON VICTIMS
• 46% of stalking victims fear not knowing what will happen next.
G
Fedina, L., reasonable
Backes, B. L.,person
Sulley, to
C.,feel fear.
Wood, • sociodemographic
L., & Busch-Armendariz, N. (2020). Prevalence and 29% of stalkingfactors
victims fear the
associated withstalking will neveramong
stalking victimization stop. college
students. Journal of American College Health, 68(6), 624-630. • 1 in 8 employed stalking victims lose time from work as a result
H
STALKING VICTIMIZATION
Davis, G. E., Hines, D. A., & Reed, K. M. P. (2021). Routine activities and stalking victimization in ofsexual
theirminority
victimization and more
college students. than
Journal half lose 5violence,
of interpersonal days ofOnline
workfirst.
I • An estimated 6-7.5 million people are stalked in a one year
Baum, K., et al. (2009). Stalking Victimization in the United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics.
or more.
• 1 in 7 stalking victims move as a result of their victimization.
J
Ibidperiod in the United States.
• Nearly 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking **** Source: Katrina Baum et al., “Stalking Victimization in the United States,”
K
Ibid
victimization at some point in their lifetime. (Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009).
L
Ibid
• Using a less conservative definition of stalking, which considers
M
any amount
Blauuw, of fearThe
E., et al. (2002). (i.e.,
Toll aoflittle fearful,
Stalking. Journalsomewhat fearful,
of Interpersonal or 17(1):50-63.• Stalking victims suffer much higher rates of depression,
Violence,
very fearful), 1 in 4 women and 1 in 13 men reported being anxiety, insomnia, and social dysfunction than people in the
a minorities have implications
N
Meyer, I. H. (2016). Does an improved social environment for sexual and gender for a new minority stress research agenda?. Psychology of sexualities
review, 7(1),of
81–90. general population.
victim stalking in their lifetime.
O • About half of all victims of stalking indicated that they were
National Center for Victims of Crime & the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (2010). Why Eric
****Source: it matters:
BlauuwRethinking
et al., “The victim
Toll of assistance for LGBTQ
Stalking,” Journal victims of hate
of Interpersonal violence
Violence, 17,
andstalked
domesticbefore
violence.the age of 25.
Washington, D.C. & New York. no. 1 (2002):50-63.
P • Stalkers use many tactics including:
Catalano, S., Smith, E., Snyder, H. & Rand, M. (2009). Bureau of Justice Statistics selected findings: Female victims of violence. Retrieved from http://www.bjs. gov/content/pub/
STALKING OFFENDERS
Approaching the victim or showing up in places when the victim
pdf/fvv.pdf.
• 2/3 of stalkers pursue their victims at least once per week, many
Q didn’t
Davis, G.E.,want
Hines,them
D.A., to be there;
& Palm Reed, K.M.making unwanted
(2021). telephone
Routing Activities calls; Victimization in Sexual Minority College Students. Journal of Interpersonal Violence: 1-29.
and Stalking
daily, using more than one method.
leavingK.,the
Mohandie, victim
Meloy, J.R.,unwanted
McGowan, M.G.,messages (textJ. or
& Williams, voice);
(2006). Thewatching or
RECON Typology of• Stalking:
78% ofReliability
stalkersand Validity
moreBased
thanupononea means
Large Sample of North American
R
use of approach.
following
Stalkers. Journal the victim from
of Forensic Sciences,a distance, or spying on the victim with
51 (1), 147-155.
• Weapons are used to harm or threaten victims in 1 out of 5 cases.
S
Ibida listening device, camera, or GPS. • Almost 1/3 of stalkers have stalked before.
T
*IbidSource for the above stats: Smith, S.G., Zhang, X., Basile, K.C., Merrick, M.T., Wang, • Intimate partner stalkers frequently approach their targets,
U
IbidJ., Kresnow, M., Chen, J. (2018). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence and their behaviors escalate quickly.
Survey (NISVS): 2015 Data Brief. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention
and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ****Source: Kris Mohandie et al.,“The RECON Typology of Stalking: Reliability and
Validity Based upon a Large Sample of North American Stalkers,” Journal of Forensic
Sciences, 51, no. 1 (2006).
• The majority of stalking victims are stalked by someone they
know. Many victims are stalked by a current or former intimate
STALKING LAWS
partner, or by an acquaintance.
• Stalking is a crime under the laws of 50 states, the District of
• People aged 18-24 have the highest rate of stalking victimization.
Columbia, the U.S. Territories, and the Federal government.
** Source for the above stats: Catalano, S., Smith, E., Snyder, H. & Rand, M. (2009). • Less than 1/3 of states classify stalking as a felony upon first
Bureau of Justice Statistics selected findings: Female victims of violence. Retrieved offense.
from http://www.bjs. gov/content/pub/pdf/fvv.pdf. • More than 1/2 of states classify stalking as a felony upon second
or subsequent offense or when the crime involves aggravating
• Almost half of stalking victims experience at least one unwanted factors.
contact per week. • Aggravating factors may include: possession of a deadly weapon,
• 11% of stalking victims have been stalked for 5 years or more. violation of a court order or condition of probation/parole, victim
• 1 in 4 victims report being stalked through the use of some form under 16 years, or same victim as prior occasions.
of technology (such as e-mail or instant messaging).
• 10% of victims report being monitored with global positioning
systems (GPS), and 8% report being monitored through video
or digital cameras, or listening devices.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2017-TA-AX-K074 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings,
conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department
of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
STALKING PREVENTION, AWARENESS,
AND RESOURCE CENTER 1100 H
1000 Street Avenue
Vermont NW, Suite
NW,310 | Washington
Suite DC 20005
1010 | Washington, | (202)
DC 20005 558-0040
| (202) | stalkingawareness.org
558-0040 | stalkingawareness.org
@FollowUsLegally