Interpersonal mistreatment among sexual minority Canadian Armed Forces members

Introduction: Although significant strides have been made in advancing policies and legal protections for individuals who are not heterosexual (hereafter referred to as sexual minorities), reports of harassment and discrimination persist both across the globe and within Canada. To date, there is no published quantitative research that has examined the interpersonal mistreatment experiences of sexual minority Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. This study attempts to address that gap in the literature. Methods: Using data from the CAF Harassment and Discrimination Survey, this study investigated the interpersonal mistreatment experiences of Regular Force members (N = 4,046) who self-identified as either a sexual minority (homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, or asexual) or a heterosexual. Interpersonal mistreatment types included personal harassment, abuse of authority, microaggression, and discrimination. Results: Sexual orientation was associated with interpersonal mistreatment, as sexual minority members reported higher levels of each type of mistreatment than heterosexual members. After controlling for gender, designated group member (DGM; i.e., Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and racialized members) status, age group, and rank group, the results showed that sexual orientation remained significantly associated with experiences of personal harassment and microaggressions. Sexual minorities were also more likely than heterosexuals to attribute their experiences of personal harassment, discrimination, and microaggressions to their sexual orientation. Discussion: The results suggest that sexual minorities are at increased risk for interpersonal mistreatment. Future studies are encouraged to incorporate longitudinal and qualitative components into the research design to investigate the experiences of sexual minorities further.