LGBT Domestic Abuse

Cat EverettDomestic and Sexual Abuse Caseworker

Galop: who are we?

• The only pan-London LGBT anti-violence charity

• Developed from grassroots campaign on policing and hate crime

• Grounded in direct work with victims of homophobic and transphobic hate crime, domestic and sexual abuse

• Work in partnership with other voluntary and statutory organisations but we are independent from the police

Key Galop projects

• Pan-London hate crime project

• DAP - London LGBT Domestic Abuse Partnership (including Broken Rainbow, Pace, Stonewall Housing and Switchboard)

• Young Person’s Domestic Abuse Project

• Shine Project (Trans inclusive work)

• Sexual violence/abuse project

What we do

• Advice, support and advocacy

• Non-police (third party) reporting via telephone, face-to-face and on-line

• Campaigns around LGBT violence and abuse, strategic role on LGBT community safety in London

• Research: Shine@Galop, Filling in the Blanks

My role

• Funded by Comic Relief until 2013

• I work 3 days a week with young people (under 25) – remaining time with those of all ages

• I work with clients who have experienced sexual and domestic abuse

• Advice, information, advocacy

• Emotional support

• On going case work

Key issues for my clients

• Housing

• Civil law

• Criminal law

• Safety planning

• Risk assessments

• Referrals/signposting

LGBT Domestic Abuse: key issues

Myths around LGBT domestic abuse

• It doesn’t happen to LGBT people

• Any abuse is mutual; it’s not about power and control

• The victim/survivor and perpetrator can be

identified on physical presentation

• If it does happen, it is easier for LGBT people to leave an abusive relationship

• The law does not protect LGBT people

Facts and figures

• Similar prevalence among LGB people to heterosexual women

• Limited research into the experience of trans people

• Lesbian and bi women at risk from former heterosexual partners

• Under-reported• When reported, this is often providers other than

the Police and/or domestic abuse and LGBT services

LGBT DA: key issues

Issues that may have an impact include:• Accessing support requires ‘coming out’• Real or perceived homo/bi/transphobia• Potential for isolation

– Arising from homo/bi/transphobia– Alienation from families of origin

• Silence around sexual violence• Housing and refuge provision for LGBT people

– Accessibility & secondary victimisation• Access to role models• Potential for unique forms of abuse

Unique forms of abuse• ‘Outing’ (or threats) about sexual orientation/gender

identity• ‘Identity abuse’

– Reinforcing fears that no one will help– Undermining someone's sense of identity

– Refusing to use preferred pronoun or name – Withholding/destroying medication, hormones, clothes

– Normalising abuse in LGBT relationships– Controlling access to social networks

• First same-sex relationship• Identity of perpetrator(s)

– Former heterosexual partner– Family and so-called honour based violence

Trans domestic abuse

• Criticising body, clothing or voice

• Destroying or withholding clothing, medication, cosmetics etc

• Criticising for not being a ‘real man or woman’

• Assaulting surgically or medically altered body parts

• Forcing to expose surgical scars

• Exploiting internalised transphobia

Power and control wheel

• Developed by Roe and Jagadinsky

• Adapted from the Power and Control Wheel developed by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, 206 West Forth Street, Duluch, MN 55806

Assessing risk for LGBT clients

• Power & Control Wheel: a helpful tool for identifying abusive behaviours

• CAADA-DASH RIC: Are you completing this?

• Minimization

• Beware of buying into myths & stereotypes

• Referring cases to MARAC

Common forms of emotional abuse

• Isolated from friends• regularly insulted/put down• frightened by things your partner says/does• told what to do/who to see• isolated from relatives• made to do most housework• your spending controlled (men)• your age used against you• malicious/pestering phone calls• your education used against you

Common forms of physical abuse

• slapped/pushed/shoved• physically threatened• kicked/punched• restrained/held down/tied up• stalked/followed by partner• beaten up• choked/strangled/suffocated• locked out of house/room by partner• hit with an object/weapon• bitten

Common forms of sexual abuse

• had sex for sake of peace• touched in way that caused

fear/alarm/distress• forced into sexual activity • hurt during sex• 'safe' words/boundaries disrespected • sexually assaulted/abused• refused your request for safer sex

Barriers to accessing services

• Lack of understanding and awareness from some service providers on LGBT community

• Concerns about real or perceived homo/transphobia

• Use of terminology (inc. use of pronouns)

• Relationship with perpetrator relate to employment

• Feeling that non LGBT-specific services are not for LGBT people

Barriers to accessing services

• Little trust (understanding) of police

• Fear of going to court

• Already feel marginalised in the community

• Poor service from other providers

• Wider issues and complexities

• Lack of service provision- e.g. housing esp refuges

Barriers to accessing services

• Feeling the incident is too minor to report or that nothing can be done- previous minimisation by professionals

• Not being taken seriously – previous bad experiences

• Fear of reprisals from perpetrators

• Not wanting to disclose their identity or that they are victim of a hate crime

• Wanting non-CJS outcomes – e.g. housing

How to address barriers

• Are you asking? Do you monitor?

• Avoiding heterosexism: Don’t assume gender of partners

• Literature and advertising: is your service LGBT friendly?

• Training: being comfortable with LGBT issues

• Don’t buy into myths and stereotypes

• Don’t minimise experiences

How to address barriers

• Allow victims time to talk, listen to them and take their experiences seriously

• Be mindful of identity issues when giving advice - not being afraid to ask others for advice

• Offer help to report incidents but explore this as one option

• Safety planning and help with non-CJS matters

• Signpost or refer to other agencies

Questions

• Please feel free to ask any questions you have!

Thank you!