Safe Browsing
25% of the LGBTQI+ community are or have been in an intimate partner relationship that has included violent or threatening behaviour. We know that domestic abuse within the LGBTQI+ community continues to be under reported, as those are who are seeking help are often afraid of disclosing their sexual orientation, or the nature of the relationship they are in.
In addition to domestic abuse people may also experience from the wider ‘chosen’ family and community; emotional bullying, physical aggression, threats that will bring harm to a friend or family member, being isolated from social interaction, control of finances, the treat of outing and sexual exploitation. Some aspects of abuse are unique to LGBTQI+ relationships.
Outing:
As a method of control, the perpetrator may threaten to ‘out’ the victim to friends, families, co-workers and religious communities. As there is a lack of support for the LGBTQ+ community, the abuser may use this to control and force their partner to comply with their behaviour.
Orientation and Gender Focused Abuse:
Perpetrators may use their partner’s sexual orientation or gender identity to abuse, or make their partner believe their feelings are linked to them being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. This can be a result of the perpetrator’s personal insecurity, low self-esteem in their sexual orientation or gender identity. This situation can be allowing internalised feelings of homo/bi/transphobia to develop in the victim.
Information and help is often reduced for the LGBTQI+ communities in relation to domestic abuse and sexual violence and may require someone to undertake a double disclosure (first their sexuality or gender identity and then that they are experiencing abuse). As there is a larger emphasis on heterosexual relationships, the greater public’s understanding is often that domestic abuse is not an issue within LGBTQI+ relationships. Specialist support may not be offered, or access may be difficult.
Isolation from the Community:
The foundations of the LGBTQ+ communities rely solely on the close network and friendships that are formed within. An abusive partner may want to prevent their partner from any contact to the community which adds difficulty to the victim finding help.
Prevention or controlling access the wider LGBTQI+ community could mean that the abuser prevents or stops their partner attending LGBTQI+ venues, reading LGBTQI+ publications and stopping contact with friends within the community. For many who are in their first same-sex relationship may find it difficult as this could be their first exposure the LGBTQ+ community.
Disclosure
Revealing your sexuality or identity to police or specialist services may be difficult for some victims so they remain silent for fear of homo/bi/transphobia. Survivors/victims may believe this will contribute to a negative opinion on the LGBTQI+ community that could cause stereotypes.
Galop are a specialist LGBTQI+ domestic abuse service
Ring the UK Helpline: 0800 999 5428
