This Wednesday 05-09-2012 the topic is
Domestic Violence in the LGBT community.
Domestic violence – it’s something that can affect anyone.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people do experience domestic abuse, but the reality of LGBT relationship violence is rarely discussed. LGBT people can be reluctant to seek help from the police for fear of homophobic or transphobic treatment, and may be unable to turn to family or friends for support if they are not ‘out’ about their sexuality. This can leave LGBT people who suffer from domestic violence especially isolated and at risk of further abuse.
About 25% of LGBT people suffer through violent or threatening relationships with partners or ex-partners – about the same rate as heterosexual women. Sometimes the abuse looks similar to that experienced by heterosexual women: emotional bullying, physical aggression, threats to harm the victim or other loved ones, social isolation, control of finances, extreme jealousy.
There are additional features that can be present in LGBT intimate partner violence that do not factor into heterosexual relationships. The abuser may threaten to ‘out’ the victim to friends, family, religious communities, co-workers, and others if he or she does not comply with the abuser’s wishes. The abuser may use the close-knit dynamic of the gay and lesbian community and the lack of support for LGBT people outside the community to further pressure the victim into compliance. You can view a more complete list of abusive relationship signs
Signs of Domestic Violence:
- Calling you offensive or derogatory names (words like b*tch, wh*re and sl*t, racial epithets, homophobic or transphobic language,insults to intelligence, etc.)
- Humiliating you in front of other people
- Threatens you with physical violence, abandonment, or harm to others you love
- Threatens to harm himself or herself if you leave the relationship or don’t comply with his or her wishes
- Expresses excessive jealousy about your friends and family
- Isolates you from friends, family, or your local LGBT community
- Tries to control what you wear, eat, say, spend time with, spend money on, etc.
- Blames you for their actions
- Threatens to ‘out’ you as a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person
- Threatens to infect you with an illness, like a sexually transmitted infection
- Withholds medication or threatens to withhold medication
- Hurts you physically in any way
- Pressures you into having any sexual contact you do not want
- Becomes violent or controlling when she or he is under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Is violent towards other people or animals
- Steals money from you, or does not allow you access to your own money
- Attempts to forbid you from working or making money
Read more CLICK HERE
To the Straight Comedian who called Gay Domestic Violence a “Fair Fucking Fight” Click Here
