Violence and the LGBTQ Community

LGBTQ individuals face a lot of adversity from their families and society.  The June 12, 2016 mass shooting at the Orlando nightclub, Pulse, reminded us that hate of the LGBTQ community often manifests itself as violence. LGBTQ people often have difficulty coming out or being open to their families and in society because of a lack of acceptance, aggression, and misinformation.

Additionally, many in the LGBTQ community face the trauma of domestic violence. LGBTQ individuals experience domestic violence within their relationships at about the same rate as heterosexual people. According to Amy Caffrey, LMFT, Training Materials for Next Door, Solutions to Domestic Violence 10/01, “Domestic violence is a serious issue in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) relationships. Domestic violence occurs in same-gender relationships at the same rate as heterosexual relationships (about 1 in 4).” 

In recent years, society seemed to show some acceptance of the LGBTQ community, exemplified by the June 2015 Supreme Court ruling for same-sex marriage. Bruce Drake of the Pew Research Center stated, "Seven-in-ten LGBT adults say [that] people knowing someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender helps a lot in making society more accepting, and 24% say this helps a little.” 

 Every survivor of domestic violence is different and may need something different from an advocate or person they trust.  Remember each individual’s life is like a book, some have a lot of chapters and others have just a few. However, each of those chapters in their books are important to them.  

Written by Alesha L., Safe House Counselor/Advocate