Domestic Violence and Same-Sex Relationships

Just as many heterosexual relationships are healthy and rewarding, many gay and lesbian families enjoy satisfying and nurturing relationships. At the same time, between one-third and one-fourth of individuals in these relationships experience domestic violence (DV) at some point in their lives.

What All Victims of DV Have in Common 

Regardless of one’s gender, sexual identity, or other factors, domestic violence has particular characteristics that are shared across the gamut:

• A cycle of abuse generally involves emotional, physical, and psychological abuse;
• Victims tend to feel isolated, fearful, and guilt;
• Abusers often blackmail their victims to keep them silent;
• Sexual abuse often runs hand in hand with physical abuse.

Common Forms of Abuse 

Signs of an abusive relationship look the same regardless of the sexual status of people involved:

• The beginning of the relationship is often extremely very romantic; one person sweeps the other off their feet.
• Jealousy builds.
• The abuser begins to exert control by examining phones and computers, checking up on one’s whereabouts, and so forth.
• The victim begins to feel isolated.
• The abuser makes the victim feel responsible for the situation.
• Mood swings lead to arguments that become threatening and/or violent.

What’s Unique About Same-Sex DV? 

Those in same-sex relationships often face particular challenges when it comes to domestic violence:

• Abusers threaten to “out” victims to family, friends, or colleagues. Victims who are already isolated to some degree experience an amplification of the sensation.
• Victims may be fearful of reporting the situation to authorities because that, too, would require them to reveal their sexual status.
• Some victims in same-sex relationships fear negative judgments toward their lifestyle by agencies dealing with abuse.
• Because they may not have legal rights to the children in the relationship, some victims fear losing relationships with family members due to custody issues.
• Oftentimes authorities are unfamiliar with the unique issues related to those in same-sex relationships. They may believe individuals are roommates, for example, and if a victim is reluctant to share the relationship status, it means DV is not detected.
• Males have few resources available to them in terms of shelter. Services are virtually non-existent for gay men.
• There is no federal law offering comprehensive protection for gay and lesbian victims of domestic violence. The patchwork of state laws provide some protection, but it’s hit and miss depending on where a person lives.

Help is Available 

The compassionate, experienced Miami domestic violence attorneys at The Law Office of Julia Kefalinos understand the predicament you are in and can provide the legal services you need moving forward. You do not deserve, nor are you responsible, for this treatment. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Miami office today.

Source:

americanprogress.org/article/domestic-violence-in-the-lgbt-community/