VAVP

The Virginia Anti-Violence Project

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Intimate Partner Violence and Harmful Myths

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by: Sophia Marano

There is a multitude of unique risk factors and harmful myths that exacerbate intimate violence among members of the LGBTQ+ community. Some of these risk factors include increased age, disability status, and living in poverty. Furthermore, harmful myths and stereotypes exist, such as the notion that older same-sex female partners do not engage in violent behavior. (Hillman, 2020). These stereotypes can be particularly harmful to members of the LGBTQ+ community considering that people often neglect intimate partner violence in non-heterosexual relationships. Above all, members of the LGBTQ+ community who are facing intimate partner violence must overcome all of the challenges that come with the fact that there is not only a lack of national survey data for intimate partner violence for LGBTQ+ people, but also inadequate responses from law enforcement and lack of LGBTQ+ friendly shelters. (Hillman, 2020).

As stated before, there are not only many risk factors that make members of the LGBTQ+ community more vulnerable to intimate partner violence, but there are also many barriers in place that make it difficult for these people to receive the care and treatment they deserve. (NCADV, 2018). There are unfortunately societal beliefs put in place that supports the notion that domestic violence does not occur in LGBTQ+ relationships when in reality, non-heterosexual relationships face intimate partner abuse at the same or higher rate as heterosexual relationships. There is also always the risk of potential homophobia from the staff of service providers and the lack of appropriate training regarding LGBTQ domestic violence for service providers. Additionally, and arguably the most systematic problem faced by this population, is the injustice LGBTQ+ people face in the legal system. (NCADV, 2018).

To face these obstacles head-on, it is also important to acknowledge and correct the myths and stereotypes about LGBTQ+ intimate partner violence. For example, many people believe that the more masculine and stronger partner is typically the abuser. (HRC, 2017). However, this is not true; intimate partner violence can impact or be perpetrated by any person regardless of their physical or personal attributes such as size, gender expression, or age. Another common myth is that it is easier for LGBTQ+ victims to leave abusive relationships than it is for heterosexual or married couples. (HRC, 2017). Again, this is completely false; Leaving an abusive partner is often a difficult and painful process, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. (HRC, 2017). Such myths and stereotypes are extremely harmful to the LGBTQ+ community and may even make survivors more hesitant to come forward and seek help.

There are numerous risk factors and harmful myths that exacerbate intimate violence that is specific to members of the LGBTQ+ community. There are also many barriers in place that make it difficult for these people to receive the care and treatment they deserve. To improve health outcomes for LGBTQ+ people facing intimate partner violence, it is important to not only be cognizant of the unique risk factors this population faces, but also of the myths and stereotypes about members of this community.

Citations:

Hillman, J. (1970, January 1). Intimate partner violence among older LGBT adults: Unique risk factors, issues in reporting and treatment, and recommendations for research, practice, and policy. SpringerLink. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-44762-5_13

NCADV: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Domestic Violence and the LGBTQ Community. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://ncadv.org/blog/posts/domestic-violence-and-the-lgbtq-community

Common myths about LGBTQ domestic violence. Human Rights Campaign. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.hrc.org/news/common-myths-about-lgbtq-domestic-violence

SAFE Austin Interviews Lauren Gerken

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by: Lea Gnoy

To raise awareness of violence against LGBTQ+ individuals with disabilities, the SAFE Alliance interviewed victims in order to get their stories and provide them with support and protection. The SAFE Alliance is a human service agency based in Austin, Texas that supplies help for survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and exploitation, and domestic abuse. It is researched that both LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities are at a high risk of experiencing violence, so those with the intersectional identities of being an LGBTQ+ individual with a disability are at an even higher risk.

The SAFE team interviewed Lauren Gerken, a lesbian with cerebral palsy who has survived abuse, to shine light on the barriers and violence she has experienced. Gerken says how people “who identify as LGBTQIA+ and also have a disability are often left out of conversations about abuse, despite their greatest risk for violence and discrimination”, making it extremely important to bring more awareness to this situation. Other than the lack of inclusivity in discussions, Gerken says that one of the biggest barriers in receiving help for abuse are the multiple misconceptions that prevent LGBTQ+ abuse survivors with disabilities from speaking out. If a person with a disability comes out as abused, “society tends to question if that person even understands abuse to begin with”. For her LGBTQ+ identity, people tend to blame the fact that she is gay on abuse; a common misconception “is that abuse makes someone gay” and that assumption can be very damaging to one’s sense of identity. Another point that Gerken brings up is how abuse is never the victim’s fault.

Since LGBTQ+ individuals who have disabilities sometimes need help with everyday tasks like getting undressed, some horrible people would see that as an excuse to impose on the individual. Being at a vulnerable state is never a sexual invitation, and unfortunately LGBTQ+ individuals with disabilities are taken advantage of during extremely vulnerable situations. It is important to hear survivors like Lauren Gerken speak out about their experiences and how they are treated to spread awareness throughout society.

Citations:

Safe interview: LGBTQIA+ people with disabilities. The SAFE Alliance. (2019, August 12). Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://www.safeaustin.org/safe-interview-lgbtqia-people-with-disabilities/

Improvements for Unhoused LGBTQ+ Individuals

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by: Lea Gnoy

As an extension of my last blog, a discussion about the political advances in the transgender community, I want to discuss the improvements in housing for LGBTQ individuals. While this seems like a very small area of improvement for me to zone in on, I feel that any type of improvement for a community that has faced (and is still facing) so much discrimination and systemic barriers is important to celebrate.

Housing is a significant part of the mental and physical well-being of a person; an individual’s housing issues can be very detrimental to their health. Unfortunately, LGBTQ individuals, especially youth, transgender people, and people of color, experience high rates of homelessness and housing instability. To make progress in this area, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has taken crucial steps to protect members from the LGBTQ community from housing discrimination. One of HUD’s first political actions has to do with the 1968 Fair Housing Act that banned anti-LGBTQ injustice. The HUD sent out a report that expanded that act to broaden the protections that LGBTQ individuals receive. This memorandum extended beyond the housing individuals that receive HUD funding, and instead applied to everyone. This action reduces the possibility of discrimination in the housing market against LGBTQ individuals.

Another one of HUD’s political actions occurred in March 2021. The HUD withdrew a Trump Administration proposed order that attempted to nullify a rule placed in 2016 that “requires same-sex shelters that receive HUD funds to accommodate trans individuals in accordance with their gender identity” (Zane, par. 25). Due to HUD’s defiance, the 2016 rule stayed in place, allowing transgender individuals to continue to receive shelter in congruence with their gender identity. This reduces the amount of unsheltered members of the LGBTQ community because at least 41% of transgender individuals have reported that they were denied shelter due to their gender identity or expression. Even though LGBTQ individuals are still facing discrimination that they do not deserve, the political world has been making advances that can lead to even greater progress in the future.

Citations:

| By Ali Zane, et al. “For LGBTQ People, Recent Anti-Discrimination Advances Could Lessen Barriers to Economic Inclusion.” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 29 June 2022, https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/for-lgbtq-people-recent-anti-discrimination-advances-could-lessen.

Steps in the Right Direction

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by: Lea Gnoy

In my last blog, I wrote about what leads to violence towards transgender and non-binary individuals and how they are affected. While it is important to hear these factors and effects, it is even more important to hear positive progress in a world where systemic barriers, discrimination, and violence pervades.

On March 31, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration recognized the day as Transgender Day of Visibility, reassuring the transgender and non-binary community that the “un-American” bills that were passed in state legislatures would be combatted. On this day, many plans to demolish barriers that affected the well-being of transgender individuals were made. The Justice Department issued a letter to all state attorneys reminding them that transgender youth, or youth pursuing gender-affirming care, are protected under the federal constitution. This letter ensured that all children “are able to live free from discrimination, abuse and harassment” (Department of Justice 2). While this statement should be a given in regards to every child, it is still improvement in the political world for equality for transgender and non-binary individuals because of how much hate and discrimination they usually face.

Advances were made in the travel system as well. The Department of State announced that there would be an “X” option for the gender marker on any U.S. citizen’s passport, and the Department of Homeland Security announced many alterations that would refine the traveling experience for transgender and non-binary individuals. These improvements include enhanced screening technology that removes gender-based systems, updated Standard Operation Procedures to accurately validate every traveler’s identities, and updated TSA PreCheck to be more inclusive for transgender and non-binary travelers. There are also countless other improvements such as providing mental health resources for transgender youth, expanding training for schools to be more supportive of students, improving customer experiences, and combatting legislative attacks on transgender kids at the state level through many political actions. While these efforts are still not enough to make our country a safer and more inclusive place for transgender and non-binary individuals, these are steps in the right direction.

Citations

“Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Advances Equality and Visibility for Transgender Americans.” The White House, The United States Government, 14 July 2022, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/31/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-advances-equality-and-visibility-for-transgender-americans/.

“Justice Department Reinforces Federal Nondiscrimination Obligations in Letter to State Officials Regarding Transgender Youth.” The United States Department of Justice, 31 Mar. 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-reinforces-federal-nondiscrimination-obligations-letter-state-officials.

Disability and Sexual Orientation Regarding Women’s Post-Intimate Partner Violence Mental Health

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by: Sophia Marano

There is a major intersection of disability and sexual orientation regarding women’s post-intimate partner violence mental health outcomes. However, research on disabled non-heterosexual women’s post-intimate partner violence health outcomes is lacking greatly. These dire health outcomes include anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, alcohol use, sleeping difficulties, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptomology. (Coston, 2019). Not only are members of the LGBTQ+ community at a greater risk for post-intimate partner violence health outcomes, but pre-existing disabilities makes this population particularly vulnerable to intimate partner violence.

Bisexual women are significantly more likely than straight women to be disabled prior to experiencing intimate partner violence. Furthermore, disabled women are significantly more likely than not-disabled women to experience negative mental health consequences of intimate partner violence. (Coston, 2019). It is important to be cognizant of not only the fact that ableism and biphobia interact to increase the likelihood that women experience intimate partner violence, but also that ableism alone magnifies the impact of intimate partner violence for women regardless of sexual orientation. It is evident that the two aspects of sexual orientation and disability intersect to create greater adversity for people that identify as both non-heterosexual and disabled. It is critical for health care providers to be aware of the significant impact of intimate partner violence on disabled women and how different identifying characteristics may magnify this experience. (Coston, 2019).

Considering that ableism puts both men and women in vulnerable positions to be victims of intimate partner violence and this threat is heightened by sexual orientation, it is important to analyze the specific needs and barriers that members of the LGBTQ+ community face regarding intimate partner violence. Although there is a decent amount of literature on the sexuality of people who identify as heterosexual and have learning difficulties, there are almost virtually no studies which explore the feelings and experiences of people with intellectual disabilities who identify as LGBTQ+. (Abbott & Howarth, 2006). One of the most debilitating barriers faced by people with intellectual disabilities in this area is the attitude of people who live with, and support, them. (Abbott & Howarth, 2006). Many disabled members of the LGBTQ+ community have reported that their staff do not have the skills, knowledge, or experience to adopt an open-minded approach needed to support their sexual identity. It is crucial that health providers are educated on the specific risk factors and vulnerabilities that disabled LGBTQ+ people face regarding intimate partner violence.

It is evident that sexual orientation and disability intersect to create greater adversity for people that identify as both non-heterosexual and disabled. Not only are members of the LGBTQ+ community at a greater risk for post-intimate partner violence health outcomes, but pre-existing disabilities makes this population particularly vulnerable to intimate partner violence. In turn, health care providers and staff must be educated about the significant impact of intimate partner violence on disabled women, the different barriers faced by people with intellectual disabilities, and how different identifying characteristics may magnify this experience.

Citations

Author links open overlay panel Bethany M. Coston PhD Envelope, M. Coston PhD Envelope, Disability, sexual orientation, and the mental health outcomes of intimate partner violence: A comparative study of women in the U.S. Disability and Health Journal. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936657418302061?casa_token=jxgwuxy0Xx0AAAAA%3AXRyFPVQWEG4AwP-uCMvTZwBlhjHgygXrHKthma0KpQymUngkGpcFWjhqFi9roSuOaiWQjsVV_Go

Still off‐limits? staff views on supporting gay, Lesbian, and bisexual … (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-3148.2006.00312.

Failures in Addressing Intimate Partner Violence

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By: Sophia Marano

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are especially vulnerable to intimate partner violence because of social stigma, structural barriers in the environment, and discriminatory practices by others. (Spiers, 2013). Unfortunately, the medical community’s efforts to address intimate partner violence have often neglected members of the LGBTQ+ community. (Ard & Makadon, 2011). It is not only imminent that health care providers learn to routinely screen for intimate partner violence when working with people who identify as LGBTQ+, but also work to overcome stereotype and biases towards this vulnerable population.

Before discussing how health care providers can help to promote equity regarding intimate partner violence in LGBTQ+ relationships, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which LGBTQ+ and heterosexual intimate partner violence differs. An aspect that is unique to the LGBTQ+ intimate partner violence experience is the tactic of outing as not only a form of abuse, but also a barrier to seeking help. (Ard & Makadon, 2011). Members of the LGBTQ+ community may not outwardly express their sexual orientation or gender identity in fear of stigma and discrimination. In turn, abusers may exploit this fear through threats of forced outing. Furthermore, outing can also be a barrier for LGBTQ+ victims to seek help. (Ard & Makadon, 2011). For example, victims’ reluctance to come out to those around them may obstruct them from turning to their family and friends for support. This cycle further isolates victims and prolongs the abuse. Another aspect of intimate partner violence in the LGBTQ+ community is the stigma, discrimination, and trauma individuals have faced prior. For instance, many LGBTQ+ individuals face rejection, bullying, and hate speech and crimes. (Ard & Makadon, 2011). These prior experiences of violence and discrimination may make victims less likely to seek help when experiencing intimate partner violence because they do not feel that they have a supportive and loving community around them.

When LGTBQ+ individuals attempt to access intimate partner violence services they are met with multiple barriers due to the lack of LGBTQ+ shelter services. (Ard & Makadon, 2011). These barriers make the role of the victim’s health care provider as both a caretaker and advocate even more important. Furthermore, there are a multitude of steps that health care providers should take when assessing LGBTQ+ individuals. For example, before screening for intimate partner violence, health providers should first inquire about sexual orientation and gender identity in a sensitive and open manner. (Ard & Makadon, 2011). Health care providers can signal their acceptance to the LGBTQ+ community by using inclusive language both in the examination room and on intake forms. When screening for intimate partner abuse, health care providers should not only recognize the problem, but also offer empathetic support and help ensure that the victim is safe. It is also crucial for the health care provider to act as an educational role for the LGBTQ+ victims and help them identify what intimate partner abuse is. (Ard & Makadon, 2011). Additionally, providers must be informed about the numerous amounts of health risks associated with intimate partner violence in LGBTQ+ patients. To further ensure that the patient gets the help that they deserve, it is also important for health care providers to familiarize themselves with resources available within their communities for LGBTQ+ victims of intimate partner violence.

LGBTQ+ intimate partner violence differs from heterosexual relationships in a countless number of ways. These differences affect the victims’ experiences significantly. To combat this problem, it is not only important to acknowledge these differences, but also for health care providers to become educated on the specific burdens that LGBTQ+ members face regarding intimate partner violence. It is imminent that health care providers take the steps needed to promote equity for members of the LGBTQ+ community and to help keep this population protected from intimate partner violence.

Citations

Ard, K. L., & Makadon, H. J. (2011, March 30). Addressing intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and Transgender Patients – Journal of General Internal Medicine. SpringerLink. Retrieved November 14, 2022, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11606-011-1697-6

Spiers, M. V. Geller, P. A. & Kloss, J. D. (2013). New Women’s Health Psychology. John Wiley & Sons