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LGBTQIA+ migrants experience heightened exposure to gender‑based violence (GBV) across migration pathways, yet little research in Canada has examined these patterns among youth or explored how violence varies within this diverse population, limiting both our understanding and our ability to meaningfully support this multiply marginalized population. This study sought to address this gap by documenting the forms of GBV experienced by LGBTQIA+ migrant youth aged 15–24 and assessing the degree to which these experiences differ across demographic characteristics. The study was guided by two core questions: (1) What forms of violence do LGBTQIA+ migrant youth in Canada report experiencing? and (2) Does violence vary within this population by demographics, including gender identity, sexual orientation, migration status, and region of origin?
Methods
Survey data were collected in 2024 through a national, community‑based research project, using online recruitment via migrant‑serving and LGBTQIA+ organizations. The analytic sample included 85 LGBTQIA+ migrant youth aged 15–24. Measures captured multiple forms of GBV, including physical, sexual, emotional, stalking, and online abuse and a composite index of types of violence experienced, alongside demographic variables including gender identity, sexual orientation, age, relationship status, duration in Canada, migration status, and region of origin. Exploratory analyses included descriptive statistics to characterize prevalence, and bivariate analyses examined variation across demographic groups.
Results
Findings indicate high levels of multidimensional violence among LGBTQIA+ migrant youth, with participants on average reporting exposure to more than two forms of abuse (M = 2.2, SD = 1.57). Across the sample, emotional abuse (66.7%) and online abuse (54.8%) were most common, followed by sexual (35.4%) and physical (35.4%) abuse, and stalking (26.8%). Patterns across demographic characteristics suggest that experiences of violence are shaped by intersecting identities. Significant differences in physical violence, stalking, and the count of types of violence were observed between individuals from different regions. Additionally, experiences of stalking were significantly more common among individuals who had spent more time in Canada, and greater sexual violence was observed among partnered compared to single individuals. These patterns highlight substantial heterogeneity of risk within the population, despite our sample size limiting the ability to detect smaller effects
Conclusions and Implications
This study provides initial evidence of the scope and complexity of GBV affecting LGBTQIA+ migrant youth in Canada. The findings underscore the need for further research, policies, prevention strategies, and service responses that recognize the intersecting identities shaping vulnerability to violence. Tailored, culturally responsive, and identity‑affirming supports are essential for addressing the diverse risks within this population and for informing future research aimed at strengthening safety.