As we celebrate Pride Month—a time to honor the resilience, courage, and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community—we must also confront the difficult truths that too often live in the shadows. One of those truths is the heightened risk of child sexual abuse and exploitation among LGBTQ+ youth. Additionally, there is an ongoing fight to ensure justice and access to healing services for these survivors.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we believe that Pride is not just about celebration—it’s also about protection, accountability, and equal access to justice. During this Pride Month, we recommit to standing with LGBTQ+ survivors. We pledge to fight back against the systems that have failed them.
LGBTQ+ Youth Are at Greater Risk for Abuse
The statistics are sobering:
- LGBTQ+ youth are significantly more likely to experience child sexual abuse than their non-LGBTQ+ peers.
- According to the CDC, over 40% of lesbian, gay, or bisexual adults report having experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.
- LGBTQ+ children are often targeted by predators who weaponize their identity. This is especially true when they are closeted, lack supportive families, or are in institutional settings like foster care, group homes, or schools.
These risks are not abstract. They are rooted in systemic inequality, stigma, and the painful reality. Many LGBTQ+ youth do not feel safe disclosing abuse —especially if they fear being rejected or outed in the process.
Civil Lawsuits Are a Path Toward Accountability
Too often, institutions that are supposed to protect children—schools, churches, youth programs—fail LGBTQ+ youth most of all. Either by ignoring abuse, silencing victims, or protecting abusers to maintain their own reputations.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we’ve had the honor of representing LGBTQ+ survivors in high-profile civil lawsuits. In these cases, institutions not only failed to protect vulnerable youth—but actively covered up abuse.
Notable Examples:
- We take on school districts for allowing bullying of LGBTQ+ students.
- In cases involving foster care abuse, we’ve represented LGBTQ+ survivors who were targeted by caretakers and ignored by agencies. These agencies were supposed to vet and monitor placements.
- We’ve also pursued civil action against religious organizations. In these situations, LGBTQ+ children were shamed for their identity. Concurrently, they were exploited by clergy members or staff.
- Our firm represented survivors from within youth detention centers and group homes. Here, sexual violence and anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination intersected. This led to complex trauma and long-term harm.
Every lawsuit is a demand for justice—and a call to change the system.
LGBTQ+ Survivors Need Tailored, Trauma-Informed Services
Survivors within the LGBTQ+ community face unique barriers to healing and justice:
- Fear of outing themselves while reporting abuse.
- Mistrust of institutions that may have historically harmed them.
- Lack of affirming, culturally competent legal and mental health services.
- Increased risk of homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health crises in the aftermath of trauma.
That’s why we take a trauma-informed, identity-affirming approach to every case. Survivors deserve to be believed, supported, and protected—without having to defend who they are.
Pride Means Justice
Pride Month is a powerful time to reflect on how far we’ve come—and how far we still need to go. If we’re going to build a future where all LGBTQ+ people can live safely, proudly, and freely, we must confront the ongoing crisis of child sexual abuse within our communities.
It starts by listening to survivors. It continues by holding institutions accountable. And it requires a legal system that is not just available, but accessible and affirming.
If you or someone you love is an LGBTQ+ survivor of child sexual abuse, you are not alone—and you deserve justice. Our team is here to listen, support, and advocate every step of the way.
Contact us confidentially to learn more about your legal options. You deserve to be heard.
