TAKE ACTION: INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is any physical, emotional, psychological or verbal abuse between people who are romantically or sexually involved. According to recent studies on IPV, same-sex partners experience IPV at the same rate as heterosexual couples. In fact, the incidence of IPV may be greater in the LGBT community, since many LGBT people do not report domestic violence incidents to authorities out of fear of discrimination.
LGBT survivors and perpetrators of IPV often find that public health, social service and criminal justice systems do not have policies and programs in place to adequately address same-sex domestic violence. Many states have laws that define IPV as occurring only between a man and a woman, which makes it impossible for those in same-sex relationships to get restraining orders or support from local law enforcement.
Urge your federal, state and local agencies to create culturally appropriate services to address LGBT IPV. Insist that our health care professionals, social service providers and law enforcement professionals are trained to recognize and respond to domestic violence in the LGBT community.
Leaving an abusive partner without a safety plan, support, and information can be life-threatening. Because IPV includes power and control dynamics, couples counseling is often more dangerous than effective. Survivors and perpetrators of violence need help from trained LGBT IPV specialists.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) can happen in all relationships whether they are same-sex, opposite sex, gay or straight. IPV is any physical, emotional, psychological or verbal abuse between people who are romantically or sexually involved.
If you think or know you are in an abusive relationship, you are not alone. Many LGBT people have survived IPV. Leaving an abusive partner without a safety plan, support, and information can be life-threatening. Because IPV includes power and control dynamics, couple counseling is often more dangerous than effective. It is critical that survivors and perpetrators seek help from a trained LGBT IPV specialist.
If you are in an abusive relationship, help is available:
- In an emergency situation, call 911. If not an emergency, call for police assistance or go to a police station to file a report.
- Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-779-SAFE (TTY 1-800-787-3224) for information about services in your area.
- Talk about it with someone you trust, such as a friend, relative, or a health care practitioner.
TAKE ACTION! You ARE worth it!
For more information, please see:
National Domestic Violence Hotline at
1-800-779-SAFE (TTY 1-800-787-3224)
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (http://www.ncadv.org/)