The Ignored Victims of Domestic Abuse
J. A. Carlton
Domestic abuse is a pervasive issue, (more than 12 million people in the U.S. suffer various forms of abuse, usually from people they know.), No matter the social, or economic station, abuse affects individuals from all walks of life, with LGBTQ+ survivors often facing unique challenges that are far too frequently overlooked.
With the recent changes in the U.S. government office holders, the abuse experiences of those in the LGBTQ+ community, will face even greater systemic barriers than has been seen since before the 1990’s. The attempts to deny the very existence of, let alone render aid and resources to this community puts more lives at risk than we’ve seen since the 1900’s. Understanding the complexities involved in serving the needs to this community is crucial to fostering inclusive and effective support systems.
Understanding Domestic Abuse in LGBTQ+ Relationships
Domestic abuse in LGBTQ+ relationships can take many forms, including physical violence, emotional manipulation, financial control, and sexual coercion. However, the dynamics of abuse in these relationships are often misunderstood or too frequently dismissed as irrelevant.
ALL domestic abusers find and use any variety and combination of social, religious, economic, and/or familial prejudices to isolate their victims, threatening to "out" them to family, friends, or employers as a means of control. In some cases, survivors are often reluctant to seek help due to fears of, at best, discrimination or disbelief from law enforcement or support services, or at worse, perpetuation of, or indifference to the abuses suffered.
Statistics highlight the prevalence of this issue. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), nearly 44% of lesbian women and 61% of bisexual women experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes, compared to 35% of heterosexual women. Similarly, gay and bisexual men also report higher rates of abuse than their heterosexual counterparts. Despite these alarming numbers, LGBTQ+ survivors continue to struggle to find or access the resources they need.
Barriers to Seeking Help
One of the most significant challenges for LGBTQ+ survivors is the lack of representation and inclusivity in domestic abuse support services. With the political changes in the U.S. these challenges will only continue to grow thanks to antagonistic and heavily biased sentiments against the people of this community.
Shelters and hotlines may not always have the training or policies necessary to address the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals, leaving them feeling unwelcome or unsafe. Additionally, transgender survivors may face heightened and more segregationist discrimination based on scientific ignorance, the least of which willl include being denied access to gender-appropriate restroom facilities.
Cultural stigma also plays a critical role. Internalized homophobia or transphobia can make it difficult for survivors to recognize or name their experiences as abusive. Fear of reinforcing negative stereotypes about LGBTQ+ relationships may further discourage individuals from speaking out. Moreover, it is almost 100% certain legal systems almost throughout the U.S will continue to fail to adequately protect LGBTQ+ individuals, if not perpetuate a culture of persecution, leaving survivors vulnerable and without recourse outside the, thankfully many (though never enough), and varied civilian resources that DO exist with the mission to help assure the safety, sovereignty, dignity and protection of our LGBTQ+ family.
Building Inclusive Support Systems
Addressing the legal, social and cultural challenges to include or protect LGBTQ+ persons has always been difficult enough, but now more than ever, it is essential to create and maintain inclusive, affirming, and accessible resources for LGBTQ+ survivors of abuse and/or oppression
Because survivors of abuse and oppression can include ANY demoographic, there are variations on the tools needed to provide aid, understanding, and healing throughout the spectrum.
The LGBTQ+ community is no different. Two of the simplest things that can be done is providing gender neutral facilities, and brushing up on using inclusive language. These two simple practices alone will markedly improve the experience, and sense of welcome and support available to our LGBTQ+ family.
Community-based organizations also play a vital role by offering peer support groups and advocacy services tailored to LGBTQ+ individuals.
Public awareness campaigns and normalizing the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters in movies, series’, and books also helps to reduce stigma and encourage survivors to seek help with decreased anxiety or fear of judgment or discrimination. Many of my own works include LGBTQ+ characters, though my Heroes of the Line series is the first to put them front and center.
Social changes historically lead to Legislative changes, and while we’ve seen a tremendous amount of progress on behalf of our LGBTQ+ family, as we’re seeing right now, no one is safe from having their rights stripped away thanks to the stacked with perjerus, unqualified (per the ABA) and oligarchically engineered SCOTUS, and the rampant bigotry infesting and infecting what are supposed to be neutral, SECULAR institutions for, at least, the next four years.
Literally a century of HUMAN PROGRESS is being stripped away by a privileged few who are intellectually, morally and ethically unfit and undeserving of sitting on ANY branch of governance in the U.S.
Because of the failings of our protective institutions, it becomes our duty to protect our neighbors and family members by working to ensure that laws protect all survivors of domestic abuse, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Advocacy efforts should focus on addressing gaps in legal protections and holding institutions accountable for providing equitable support.
Supporting Survivors
If you or someone you know is an LGBTQ+ survivor of domestic abuse, know that help is available. Organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the Anti-Violence Project offer resources specifically for LGBTQ+ individuals.
You will also find links to several organizations which offer help for various needs at: jacarlton.com
By fostering empathy, education, and advocacy, we can create a world where all survivors feel seen, supported, and safe.