NNEDV Stands with Pride

June 23, 2018

The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) affirms its ongoing support for the LGBTQ [1] community during Pride Month. All survivors deserve safety and support regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Domestic violence, the pattern of coercive, controlling behavior that may include physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse, can occur in relationships regardless of gender and sexual orientation or other intersectional identities.

Understanding the ways in which domestic violence impacts a myriad of people and relationships helps deconstruct heteronormative and cis-normative. Often, people understand domestic violence as males exerting power and control in the context of a heterosexual relationship. This idea leaves LGBTQ survivors out of the conversation and maintains a narrative that domestic violence does not exist in LGBTQ relationships [2].

LGBTQ individuals are significantly impacted by domestic violence. Bisexual women face a particularly high risk, with 61 percent experiencing rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lives [3]. Additionally, transgender women are three times more likely to experience stalking, financial abuse, and sexual harassment compared to individuals who do not identify as transgender [4].

LGBTQ survivors face unique barriers to safety due to a lack of LGBTQ-specific resources and a hesitancy to involve law enforcement systems and personnel that often struggle to understand the dynamics of domestic violence within the LGBTQ community [3]. It is critical that LGBTQ survivors have access to inclusive and identity-affirming services. Survivors should never have to worry about homophobia and transphobia when considering accessing resources to increase their safety.

NNEDV is committed to breaking down myths and stereotypes about domestic violence and increasing access to resources for LGBTQ survivors through advocacy. This Pride Month, and always, NNEDV recognizes and stands with LGBTQ survivors of domestic violence.

For more information on services for LGBTQ survivors, visit our national partner The Northwest Network.

[1] Trans Student Educational Resources, “LGBTQ+ Definitions.”
http://www.transstudent.org/definitions

[2] National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence in 2016,” 2017. https://avp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2015_ncavp_lgbtqipvreport.pdf

[3] Beth Sherouse, “Domestic Violence Awareness and the LGBT Community, “October 26, 2015.
https://www.hrc.org/blog/domestic-violence-awareness-and-the-lgbt-community

[4] National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence in 2016,” 2017.
https://avp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2015_ncavp_lgbtqipvreport.pdf