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LGBTQIA+

Pride and trans flags.

Domestic Violence and the LGBTQIA+ Community

 

Types of Domestic Violence Affecting the LGBTQ Community

  • 20% of victims have experienced some form of physical violence
  • 16% have been victims to threats and intimidation
  • 15% have been verbally harassed
  • 4% of survivors have experienced sexual violence
  • 11% of intimate violence cases reported in the NCADVP’s 2015 report involved a weapon.


 

Unique Elements of Abuse in LGBTQ Community

There are several aspects of intimate partner violence which can be unique to the LGBTQ community. “Outing” or threatening to reveal one partner’s sexual orientation/gender identity may be used as a tool of abuse in violent relationships and may also be a barrier which reduces the likelihood of help-seeking for the abuse. Prior experiences of physical or psychological trauma, such as bullying and hate crime, may make LGBTQ victims of domestic violence less likely to seek help.


 

Barriers to Seeking Services/Receiving Assistance

Several barriers exist to addressing LGBTQ intimate partner violence. These include:

  • Societal beliefs that domestic violence does not occur in LGBTQ relationships
  • Potential homophobia from staff of service providers, or from non-LGBTQ domestic violence victims they may come into contact with
  • Lack of appropriate training regarding LGBTQ domestic violence for service providers
  • A fear that airing the problems among the LGBTQ population will take away from progress toward equality or fuel anti-LGBTQ bias
  • Domestic violence shelters are typically female only, and transgender individuals may not be allowed entrance due to their gender/genital/legal status.
  • The dangers associated with “outing” oneself and risking rejection from family, friends, and society
  • The lack of, or survivors being unaware of, LGBTQ-friendly assistance resources
  • Low levels of confidence in the effectiveness of the legal system for LGBTQ people


 

Transgender Intimate Partner Violence

Transgender individuals may suffer from an even greater burden of intimate partner violence than gay or lesbian individuals. Transgender victims of intimate partner violence are more likely to experience threats or intimidation, harassment, and police violence within intimate partner violence. Specific forms of abuse occur within relationships where one partner is transgender, including:

  • Using offensive pronouns such as “it” to refer to the transgender partner
  • Ridiculing the transgender partner’s body and/or appearance
  • Telling the transgender partner that he or she is not a real man or woman
  • Ridiculing the transgender partner’s identity as “bisexual,” “trans,” “femme,” “butch,” “gender queer,” etc.


Why It Matters

Domestic violence is not limited to heterosexual relationships and can affect individuals of all sexual orientations and genders. WIthin the LGBTQ community, intimate partner violence occurs at a rate equal to or even higher than that of the heterosexual community. LGBTQ individuals may experience unique forms of intimate partner violence as well as distinctive barriers to seeking help due to fear of discrimination or bias. 

Although the response to LGBTQ victims of domestic violence is gradually improving, the LGBTQ community if often met with ineffective and victimizing legal responses. Forty-five percent of victims do not report the violence they experience to police because they believe it will not help them. Further more, members of the LGBTQ community may be denied assistance and domestic violence services as a result of homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia.



From the NCADV:

Intimate partner violence, or domestic violence, happens at equal or even higher rates in LGBTQ+ relationships compared to heterosexual relationships. 

 

9 Quick Statistics about Domestic Violence and the LGBTQ Community

  1. 43.8% of lesbian women and 61.1% of bisexual women have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime, as opposed to 35% of heterosexual women.
  2. 26% of gay men and 37.3% of bisexual men have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime, in comparison to 29% of heterosexual men.
  3. In a study of male same sex relationships, only 26% of men called the police for assistance after experiencing near-lethal violence.
  4. In 2012, fewer than 5% of LGBTQ survivors of intimate partner violence sought orders of protection.
  5. Transgender victims are more likely to experience intimate partner violence in public, compared to those who do not identify as transgender.
  6. Bisexual victims are more likely to experience sexual violence, compared to people who do not identify as bisexual.
  7. LGBTQ Black/African American victims are more likely to experience physical intimate partner violence, compared to those who do not identify as Black/African American.
  8. LGBTQ white victims are more likely to experience sexual violence, compared to those who do not identify as white.
  9. LGBTQ victims on public assistance are more likely to experience intimate partner violence compared to those who are not on public assistance.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Local and State Resources

Anchorage/Southcentral PFLAG

Anchorage/Southcentral PFLAG

Anchorage/Southcentral PFLAG

Family with two dads and two kids.

 PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies.  


Phone: (907) 566-1813

Email:  pflag-anchorage@gci.net 

Check Out Their Page

Choosing Our Roots

Anchorage/Southcentral PFLAG

Anchorage/Southcentral PFLAG

People arm in arm looking out to the trees

Safely Housing Queer Youth

Their Mission:  To ensure that all queer Alaskan youth and young adults have access to safe homes, supportive communities, and opportunities to thrive.


Phone:  (907) 764-6233 

Email:  audre@choosingourroots.org  

Check Out Their Page

Identity Alaska

Anchorage/Southcentral PFLAG

The Safe Zone Project

Identity Logo

Their Mission

Identity’s mission is to advance Alaska’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community through advocacy, education and connectivity.


 Staffed by trained and caring volunteers, the Helpline is here to provide you with information on resources, referrals for assistance, and a sympathetic ear.


Statewide
Hours: 6 pm – 11 pm, 7 days a week
(907) 258-4777 – in Anchorage
888 - 901-9876 – toll free outside Anchorage 

Check Out Their Page

The Safe Zone Project

The NW Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse

The Safe Zone Project

Pen writing 'Diversity' in rainbow colors

The Safe Zone Project (SZP) is a free online resource providing curricula, activities, and other resources for educators facilitating Safe Zone training (sexuality, gender, and LGBTQ+ education sessions), and learners who are hoping to explore these concepts on their own. 


This is a great training for businesses and LeeShore is proud to have trained their staff and display the Safe Zone  

Check Out Their Page

ACLU of Alaska

The NW Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse

The NW Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse

Gavel resting on its pad on a book

 The ACLU is the nation's guardian of liberty: through our litigation, legislative expertise, grassroots advocacy, and public education efforts, we work to protect the civil rights and individual liberties enshrined in the U.S. and Alaska Constitutions. 

They strive to ensure that those who have historically been denied their rights are afforded the same protections as everyone else, including people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, prisoners, and Alaska Native peoples. 

Check Out Their Page

The NW Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse

The NW Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse

The NW Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse

Northwestern Network pink logo
phone; 206-568-7777
nwnetwork.org

The Northwestern Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse works to end violence and abuse by building loving and equitable relationships in our community and across the country.


 Phone: (206) 568-7777
email: info@nwnetwork.org  

Check Out Their Page

National Resources

Pride Foundation

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project

hands making a heart  with pride colors

Scholarships and Grants

Pride Foundation is building a better, safer, and more equitable world for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people and our families in the Northwest. 

Check Out Their Page

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project

monochromatic person sitting under a tree with hands over face

National organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.


24/7 Help:  1-866-488-7386

Check Out Their Page

Trans Lifeline

The Trevor Project

Trans Lifeline

hands holding a stuffed heart

Hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people. Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs members of our community might have.  


Phone: 1-877-565-8860

Check Out Their Page

GLSEN

The National Center of Transgender Equality

Trans Lifeline

person opening a locker

GLSEN was founded by a group of teachers in 1990, that knew that educators play key roles in creating affirming learning environments for LGBTQ youth. But as well as activating supportive educators, we believe in centering and uplifting student-led movements. They conduct extensive and original research to inform our evidence-based solutions for K-12 education.


Phone: (212) 727-0135 

Email: info@glsen.org 

Check Out Their Page

The National Center of Transgender Equality

The National Center of Transgender Equality

The National Center of Transgender Equality

NCTE logo, large T with circle around it.

NCTE was founded in 2003 by transgender activists who recognized the urgent need for policy change to advance transgender equality. They set out to accomplish what no one had yet done: provide a powerful transgender advocacy presence in Washington, DC.


 Phone: (202) 642-4542
Email: ncte@transequality.org 

Check Out Their Page

Lambda Legal

The National Center of Transgender Equality

The National Center of Transgender Equality

Lambda Legal logo, blue L with purple lines filling it.





Lambda Legal, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work. 

Check Out Their Page

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