The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs just released a study that provides a bleak look into the problem of domestic abuse and violence against intimate partners in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected community (LGBTQH). One of the stranger findings—the number of gay domestic abuse cases rises in the spring and early summer. But the NCAVP also has suggestions on how our community can address the issue.
David Mixner breaks down some of the report’s key findings:
-There were a total of 5,052 reports of domestic violence in our community which is an increase of over 38% from last year.
-There was also a dramatic increase in the physical violence directed at their partners. 55.4% of the survivors reported physical violence from their partners. This is an increase from 38.5% from the previous year.
-Six of our community members were killed by their partners in 2010.
-Over 44% of the LGBTQH survivors of domestic violence were turned away from traditional shelters!
-Over 54% of survivors who sought court order protection for same sex domestic abuse were denied them by the courts!
-A measurement of the despair and isolation our survivors are feeling is that in 2009 we saw 22% of the survivors call the police. Last year we saw that only 7% of the survivors felt there was a solution in seeking protection from the police.
Despite the depressing fact that LGBTQH people aren’t immune to domestic abuse, the report also suggests policy makers, public and private funders to increase local, state and national funding of LGBTQH-specific anti-violence measures.
These measures include legal non-discrimination provisions that increase support and safety for LGBTQH survivors of violence, community programs led by survivors and experts of LGBTQH domestic violence to increase public awareness, and strategies to intervene and prevent LGBTQH domestic violence between the abusers and the abused.
Michael
Another classy caption for this site ugh. Anyways there is far more domestic abuse in heterosexual households then there are in the LGBT community and their households.This is disturbing though none the less.
christopher di spirito
LGBTQH?
I think I prefer the original LGBT.
Soon it will be LGBTQHGDLLDLGBILBITPOTPOOP
Kamuriie
Stop adding letters! “T” shouldn’t even be part of it, much less QHWTFBBQ. Seriously.
xander
The rate of ALL reported domestic violence goes up in warmer temps, as does gang violence. That said, the courts and shelters in *many* places mis-handle DV cases among same-sex couples: the lack of resources for LGBT persons faced with dom. violence means that abusers don’t get charged appropriately and the abused don’t get needed help.
Jim Hlavac
Egad, more mush from wimps — I’ve concluded a study which shows that 100% of all “gay” numbers of any kind are simply mush. Here, from the report itself: “The UCLA Center for Health and Policy Research, conducted a relatively large study in 2010, which shows that bisexual (40.6%), gay or lesbian adults (27.9%) are almost twice as likely to experience intimate partner violence as heterosexual adults (16.7%).” — My my, so 35,000 members of hetero families killed (most murders are domestic crimes, out of 44,000 or so murders overall,) and lo, exactly 6 were gay folks? Egad, why, we are a big lot aren’t we? More were fag bashed to death, for heaven’s sake. Not to mention that the numbers of hetero beatings and such must be in the millions, why, they got entire courts and laws-galore to take care of that, no? And safe houses for the women in crisis, by the tens of thousands — and gays top the list? hahaha! And the bisexuals — were they beating the hell out of their hetero girlfriends — or their homo-lovers? No answer is provided; I’d say they beat the gals, but hey, anybody can make a number up, right? Meanwhile, we have no evidence of the numbers of gay folks at all, with numbers going all over the place — and all they could come up with is 1,326 incidents — in the colorful chart — and then, just a sentence or so later: 5,052 incidents — um, so which? the lower or the higher? What does it take already to simply say: “more alleged data on the uncounted and unknown and our surmise that gays are a problem.” Egad. Who makes this stuff up?
Jim Hlavac
Oh yeah, since nearly 50% of marriages end in divorce, I’d say that would be “spouse abuse” or “intimate partner violence” — surely there were fights, no? Over the adultery or the beatings, or the lack of money given to the woman in the marraige, no? If nearly 1/2 of hetero marriages end in divorce, then I’d say 1/2 of all hetero relationships involve spouse abuse of some sort — economic deprivation, 90% women trouble by this, kids impacted by the millions. Pushing, shoving, china throwing, pot slamming, who knows? And our prevalence is twice as high? These people are out of their minds, and looking for federal grant monies, so they create a problem, and lo, tell us we’re the violent ones? hahaha! I find it absolutely ludicrous to believe that we are two or three or four times as likely to be violent in our relationships. Even more amazing, according to our most obstreperous opponents exactly 100% of gay relationships involve violence, for they do think our very sex is violent indeed.
timncguy
I may not be the brightest bulb, but even I can read this chart which shows that JANUARY
timncguy
continuing…. shows JANUARY as the month with the 2nd highest number of incidents. January is certainly not in the spring or early summer unless you live in Australia.
mike128
what’s up with the photo you chose for this article?? totally inappropriate given the topic. domestic violence is not a joke.
bobo
as someone who works with dv victims and survivors, the photo and the headline is absolutely inappropriate and not funny. in addition to the other reactionary bullshit Queerty keeps posting, it’s enough to make me want to stop visiting this website ever again.
DJ
I would also like to say that I found the headline and photo insensitive.
Bee Gaga
Why did they add HIV infected people under our umbrella and say that this report shows “gays…” as if all HIV infected people are gay, I don’t like that at all
Cam
Wow, what a shocker, nobody at QUEERTY bothered to actually READ the report and it sounds like Mixner didn’t either.
The report says VERY CLEARLY that the increase in the number of reports of violence is due mainly to a large increase in funds to the Los Angeles branch of this organization that actually allowed them to go seek out and take additional reports.
So what a shock, they got extra funds and went out with the job to find more reports of violence and they found them.
If you’re going to report on a study please at least skim it, this information was litterally in the first few pages of data.
Max the Communist
Domestic violence in the LGBTQ community has been an enduring and under-reported problem. I worry that the flippancy with which this article addresses the problem only serves to drive under-reporting, when what we should be doing is coming up with solutions. Although all domestic partnership abuse has to be stopped, I’m particularly concerned about battered men, who may under-report because culturally, men are suppose to be able to defend themselves or “suck it up” if they are battered.
As for Jim Hlavac, your comment casting bisexuals as the batters in all domestic violence cases is grossly and shockingly bigoted. The 2009 Bisexual Health Report, co-published by NGLTF, shows bisexuals suffer higher rates of domestic violence than straights, lesbians and gay men–and they are more likely to be battered because of their bisexual identification. I deserve to be protected from the violence of your biphobia.
DenverBarbie
I enjoy some good snark, Queerty. But keep it in the realm of acceptable taste- ixnay on the photo and headline.
Riker
Gretchen, stop trying to make “LGBTQH” happen. Its not going to happen!
Will
The H apparently stands not for heterosexual but for people who are HIV+.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs just released a study that provides a bleak look into the problem of domestic abuse and violence against intimate partners in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected community (LGBTQH).
Yes there is a problem with domestic partner abuse/assault, both psychological and physical.
It’s the worst kept secret ever. It’s pretty common among Lesbian women but I know bisexual and gay men who have been abused by their male partners as well.
Jerome
Max the Communist-Excellent post.
There’s lots of biphobia in these topics as well:
http://www.queerty.com/listen-real-world-castmate-so-sick-of-biphobia-he-can-barely-hook-up-with-tons-of-random-dudes-20111022/
and here http://www.queerty.com/madonna-brings-nicki-minaj-and-m-i-a-to-super-bowl%E2%80%94and-the-recording-studio-20111028/
JM
LGBTQWTF… I know that there is an HIV problem in our community, but, can we please not lump all HIV+ folks in with the rest of us? Being gay, trans, etc. is not a viral disease, but HIV is. What you’re saying, by including all HIV+ people in the ever-growing PC acronym, is “hey, having a deadly STD makes you just like other queer people”. There’s enough unfortunate association of queerness with AIDS. Don’t add to it! I sympathize with all those who have HIV/AIDS through no fault of their own — it’s an evil disease — but if we start adding HIV to the list, then the queer community may as well become synonymous with syphilis!
CaliberGuy
Besides the fact that the report points out increases in funding to help actually gather the information (IE uncover incidents) I would not be surprised to see a rise in domestic violence during a very sever recession, as it also rises for straight partnerships during hard economic times. Not surprising since money is one of the number one stresses in relationships. I would imagine that in many places where same sex partnerships are not recognized dealing with money can and dose become even more stressful, just adding fuel to a potential fire.