Domestic Violence in LGBT Communities-LGBT Domestic Violence Issues
Domestic Violence in LGBT community is among the lesser understood and often ignored aspect of domestic violence issues. It should be understood that domestic violence can surface in any time of relationship irrespective of the sexual orientation of the individuals involved. It is believed that the general disregard for the social and domestic issues facing the LGBT community, domestic violence among LGBT community members is often unreported or misinterpreted. This aspect of LGBT community is further complicated by some typical issues that have been discussed below.
Decoding Special Issues in LGBT Domestic Violence
For starters, the overall pattern of domestic violence in LGBT households is quite similar to those found in heterosexual families—this fact is unacknowledged by many LGBT couples However, it has been noted that there are some rather unique dynamics that affect LGBT relationships and thus, the kind of related abuse too varies a bit when compared with cases of heterosexual abuse. This includes physical and emotional violence dealt via:
- Threatening to reveal the partner’s sexual orientation to family or co-workers
- Forcing the partner to believe that any pleas or complaints will not be heeded by anybody since LGBT members are looked down upon
- Justification of abuse on the pretext that LGBT partners don’t demand the same kind of respect as heterosexual partners since the LGBT community forms a meager section of the society
- Making a partner believe that abusive behavior is an essential part of LGBT relationships and that abuse in LGBT households cannot be defined at par with domestic violence
- Manipulation of support by the abuser by making the victim’s friends and family believe that the victim is suffering psychologically due to failure to accept his/her sexual orientation
- Forcing the victim to portray and believe that violence is LGBT relationships is mutual and consensual, since LGBT relationships are different from heterosexual relationships
- Conniving to present LGBT domestic violence as a part of sado-masochistic activities that are supposed to be recreational
Lesbians and female bisexuals are made to believe that their abuse is vital to “help” them overcome fear of their sexual identity being disclosed that is also referred to as conquering sexism or homophobia. There are many loopholes in the few legal process that exist for solving cases wherein the gay or bi couple is sharing assets when compared with the exhaustive set of legalities available for separation of heterosexual counterparts.
Many lesbian, bi and gay forums are not supportive of talking about battering or other forms of abuse in their community since they are afraid that this will create a negative perception about their community as a whole. Please note that some degree of domestic violence might exist in S/M relationships but then this form of violence is mutual and consensual and is not inflicted upon a partner, i.e. there is no victim who is actually suffering physically or mentally. However, LGBT domestic violence refers to non-consensual abusive behavior that is outside the realm of pre-arranged S/M role-plays.
LGBT community members need to understand that living through abusive relationships can derail their physical and mental well-being for a lifetime. Lesbians, bisexuals and gays might have difficulty in finding resources of support when compared with heterosexual domestic violence victims but there are systems that can be accessed. These help centers for the LGBT community have been set-up at the state, community and private level where many LGBT folks too have formed dedicated, self-funded support groups for LGBT domestic violence victims.
It should be noted that violence can be heaped in the physical, sexual or emotional form and each of these can be equally damaging.. Yes, traditional domestic violence help services might lack the expertise required for recognizing and appropriately addressing such issues among LGBT community members but seeking help can at least halt the abusive process.. Lesbians, bisexuals and gays often fail to realize that when compared with heterosexual relationships, their chances of being financially tied to their partner are rather low and thus, ending an abusive relationship can be actually easier than expected.
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