Lesbian Domestic Violence

We came across this piece of information regarding same-sex intimate partner violence with the lesbian community in a search for lifestyle pieces. This article was in a resource that lesbians use for information so it likely reached the population it could help the most.

The piece opens with an illustration of what it is like to be in a violent situation; it was quite moving for me and could be useful for others to help understand what it’s like. It’s is not until you finish reading the story that the author informs you it is a true account; the names have been changed.

The article also points out that same-sex intimate partner violence is largely unreported; a common reason being that there aren’t enough services for them. Additionally, there are only around 25 agencies that are specifically devoted to LGBT domestic violence.

An additional problem that individuals experiencing same-sex intimate partner violence deal with is that the wrong person is commonly arrested. This is due to common misconceptions that only the “butch” could be the abuser.

The article points out that they are trying to help people understand that same-sex intimate partner violence is a problem; they need the same protections and access to care as opposite-sex partners have.

Citation: Huwig, Pam. (2001). A Look at Lesbian Domestic Violence. Lesbian News, 26.