LGBT+ people can experience domestic abuse regardless of age, class, disability, gender identity, caring responsibility, immigration status, race or religion.
If you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and you are experiencing domestic abuse you can contact our LGBT+ team through our helpline on 01273 622 828.
This guidance is also useful for professionals and helpline operators who are receiving calls from friends/family who are LGBT+ either because they are being victimised by, or using violent/abusive behaviour towards their partner.
Galop also host an online LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Library, which includes direct links to resources relevant for LGBT+ people, service providers working with LGBT+ victims of domestic abuse and researchers interested in the topic.
Acknowledging that any partner, ex-partner or family member is an abuser is hard. This can be made even harder by threats of 'outing' or through fear of further isolation.
Are you worried a relationship you have is abusive? Here is a short checklist of abusive behaviour:
Does your partner, former partner, or a family member:
- Call you names, humiliate and criticise or belittle you?
- Use your gender or sexuality as a basis for threats, intimidation or harm?
- Control or discourage your contact with friends, family, work, or the LGBT+ community?
- Intentionally use the wrong gender pronouns?
- Deny you access to medical treatment or hormones?
- Minimises the harm caused by their behaviour?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, you may be experiencing domestic abuse. This list is in no way comprehensive. Please visit our page Am I being abused? for a longer checklist of abusive behaviours, or call our helpline on 01273 622 828.
Our LGBT+ service for survivors of domestic abuse was the first in England.
We also provide one of the few dedicated LGBT+ refuge and housing support services, partnering with Manchester and London as part of a Government funded project. We also accept self-identifying women into our non-LGBT+ refuge.
For further support, you can also seek these organisations below:
• Allsorts: Young People’s service. They do drop-in’s, counselling and education on LGBTQI+ issues in school.
• MindOut: The offer a low cost counselling service, have an advocacy service and do several support groups including a peer support group, specific Trans support groups, and a group for those experiencing suicidal thoughts. They also have a peer to peer mentoring service.
• LGBT+Switchboard: They have support groups for older people, specific Trans and non-binary support and social groups, a help line for support.
• Terrance Higgins Trust: They support people with a diagnosis of HIV. They can offer counselling, support groups, mentoring, have a back to work programme, and financial advocates.
• Lunch Positive: They run a free lunch club social for anyone diagnosed with HIV every Friday.
• LGBT+ Community Safety Forum: They offer advocacy and casework for anyone within the LGBTQ+ community who is currently vulnerable, at risk, or just needs some support. They also have a specialist Hate Crime reporting service that can support you when reporting/considering reporting.
• Rainbow Hub: A one stop shop for support. They signpost to agencies in the city depending on the support you need. They also offer an advocacy service, as well as community connection programmes with other services, notably the police.
