LGBT+ Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of abuse or violence against an intimate partner or family member. Domestic abuse does not only affect women. It can happen to anyone, including men, transgender people and any other queer person. Domestic abuse usually falls into one of these six categories :
Although domestic abuse can fall into these categories, there are some forms of abuse that usually only affect LGBT+ people, such as:
- The threat of disclosure of sexual orientation and gender identity
- Increased isolation because of factors like lack of family support
- Undermining someone’s sense of gender or sexual identity
- Limiting or controlling access to spaces and networks relevant to coming out and coming to terms with gender and sexual identity
- The abused may believe they ‘deserve’ the abuse because of internalised negative beliefs about themselves
- The abused may believe that no help is available due to experienced or perceived homo/bi/ transphobia of support services and the criminal justice system
- Using society’s heterosexist myths about aggression and violence abusive partners may manipulate and convince their partner that no one will believe the abuse is real
- An abusive partner may manipulate their partners into believing that abuse is a ‘normal’ part of same-sex relationships
- The abusive partner may pressure their partner to minimalise abuse to protect the image of the LGBT community
- If the abused partner is living in the UK on a spousal visa, the abuser might take advantage of their lack of awareness about immigration law, and threaten to deport them back to their country of origin, which might be unsafe
Some forms of domestic abuse are also unique just to transgender people:
- Withholding medication or preventing treatment needed to express the victim’s gender identity (e.g. hormones, surgery).
- The abuser might refuse to use correct pronouns and prevent the abused from telling other people about their trans background or identity.
- The abuser might use pejorative names and ridiculing persons’ body image (body shaming).
- The abuser might convince or manipulate their partner that nobody would believe them because they’re transgender.
- The abuser might deny a person’s access to medical treatment or hormones or coercing them into not pursuing medical treatment.
All forms of domestic abuse are wrong. No one should have to put up with any form of abuse, discrimination or violence. If you, or someone you know, need support regarding domestic abuse, please get in touch with us.
Our helpline is open Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm: 0808 800 0024.
Further Information
