While work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure the delivery of services, the public face of much of the response has focused on reaching out to victims and survivors who find themselves isolated with an abusive partner to try and make sure that they know that help and support are available. Alongside this, there has been an increased emphasis on ensuring family, friends, and neighbours also know how to recognise the signs of domestic violence and abuse and what they can do to help.
As a network of agencies and practitioners, researchers and activists, working on LGBT+ domestic abuse, we recognise this work is vital, and we will continue to work with our statutory and third sector partners to ensure that victims and survivors are supported.
We would like to support all those working on the response to domestic violence and abuse to continue to recognise the experiences of LGBT+ survivors. Research tells us that LGBT+ survivors can face a range of barriers to identifying their experiences, particularly if they are not explicitly represented in the public story of domestic violence and abuse.
We also know some LGBT+ survivors are more likely to reach out to friends or family, rather than domestic violence services or agencies like the Police, so it is important to ensure the communication to friends and families also recognizes that domestic abuse affects LGBT+ people.
This is why we have developed the following advice and guidance:
Advice and guidance
For friends and/or family who are worried that the LGBT+ person they know is being victimised by their partner;
Advice and guidance
For friends and/or family who are worried that the LGBT+ person they know is using violent/abusive behaviour towards their partner;
Signatories
| Nik Noone Peter Kelley Jasna Magić Catherine Donovan |
CEO Head of Domestic Abuse Service Research & Policy Development Professor of Sociology |
Galop Galop Galop Durham University |
|
| Heather Paterson | LGBT+ Domestic AbuseDevelopment Worker | SAYiT – Call It Out project | |
| Elly Sinclair James Rowlands |
LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Development Worker Doctoral Researcher |
SAYiT – Call It Out project University of Sussex |
|
| Maddi Scott | LGBT+ Specialist Officer | RISE | |
| Rhys Dower | Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator | LGBT Foundation | |
| Sajida Bandali | Senior IDVA | Birmingham LGBT | |
| Tiffany Parsons | LGBT IDVA | Independent Choices |
Notes
- The statement and the advice/guidance have been prepared by a network of agencies and practitioners, researchers and activists working on LGBT+ domestic violence and abuse. This work is unfunded.
- The fact sheets are intended for distribution. You do not need to seek permission to share them. However, please acknowledge the network and do not remove the logos.
