Aids-Fondet to pilot counselling for LGBT+ sexual assault survivors

Aids-Fondet will receive funding to pilot specialist counselling for LGBT+ people who have experienced sexual harassment or assault, DR reports. The service is due to begin in 2027, with in-person appointments in Copenhagen and online counselling elsewhere in Denmark.

About one in three LGBT+ people has experienced sexual harassment or assault, according to a study by ALS Research. Aids-Fondet sees a similar pattern in its clinics: around 33 per cent of people who complete its self-registration form say they have experienced it, said Thomas Hübertz, the organisation’s head of prevention and counselling.

Some experiences may be linked to dating environments, where personal boundaries can be challenged or crossed, Hübertz said.

Aids-Fondet works in sexual health and runs Checkpoint clinics in several parts of the country. Young people and LGBT+ people can get tested there for HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Visitors also tell clinic staff about sexual harassment and assault, creating demand for counselling the organisation has not previously been able to provide.

Although counselling services already exist for sexual minorities who have experienced sexual assault, figures from the Centre for Sexual Assault at Rigshospitalet show that the group makes limited use of them. Hübertz said a specialist service could offer support tailored to minority groups and help connect people with established services.

Aids-Fondet will receive 900,000 kroner a year from 2027 to 2030 to test the service. The funding is part of the SSA agreement, which allocates more than 450 million kroner to areas including support for vulnerable children and people experiencing homelessness.