Being a LGBT college student comes with its own unique experiences. Perhaps living on campus is the first time a LGBT student has felt a sense of community, or they may be coming to terms with their own sexual orientation or gender identity. Whatever the circumstances, many students are looking for support from people who understand, in an atmosphere where many are not willing to. It's no secret that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer students are subject to discrimination at high rates in just about every setting, with no exclusion of college campuses. As a result, they are oftentimes targeted on campuses for harassment, assault, and sexual misconduct at much higher rates than their non-queer counterparts.

The presumption of guilt that haunts respondents who believe that they are innocent in sexual assault cases has been addressed time and time again, proving to be detrimental for falsely accused students. Being accused of an offense like sexual misconduct (in any of its forms) brands students with a pronounced scarlet letter. Before an investigation and hearing even ensue, many people, including the people who are ultimately responsible for determining a student's guilt or innocence, are already convinced that a respondent has committed this act. Consequently, respondents have reported being treated poorly by everyone around them before they are given the chance to tell their truth.

What most people fail to address is the distinct challenges false accusations present for LGBT students. For students who are rarely fully accepted on college campuses, false accusations can be devastating. The small community that they once found refuge in may reject them, and they may even face more flack than the average respondent due to the stereotypes surrounding LGBT culture and people. There's this assumption that homosexual people are interested in everyone of their same sex. They're falsely characterized as people who are impulsive and have uncontrollable sexual desires. When people actually believe these stereotypes, it creates an even more dangerous environment for LGBT respondents and minimizes the likelihood of people believing their side of the story.

The truth is that innocent LGBT respondents oftentimes don't have a source of support. In many cases, their own parents may refuse to believe them. This is why you should contact a student defense attorney who you know will be on your side, regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity.

Student Defense Attorney Helping Clients Nationwide

National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento has dedicated his entire career to helping students of all demographics adequately defend themselves in sexual misconduct hearings. He has the skill and expertise to help you gather facts that support your account of events, draft a statement, and gain an understanding of your school's policies and processes. He's helped other students in your predicament prevail in these hearings and he can do the same for you. Contact him today.