Introduction
The LGBTIQ acronyms is a term that relates to people from diverse gender or sexual communities and identify as intersex, gay, transgender, bisexual, queer, or lesbian (Tomsich, 2019). Many societies expected people to adhere to roles that suit their gender; however, multiple queer, transgender, or non-heterosexual people do not fit or positively identify themselves within these narrowly and socially specified parameters. Although studies have historically overlooked LGBTQ communities, how and why they experience sexual and domestic violence, recent researches are increasingly comprehensive and complete. A survey by The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence in 2010 found that gay or lesbian individuals experience domestic, sexual, or related violence at equivalent to or higher rates than heterosexual individuals (Black et al., 2011). The survey also uncovered that bisexual females usually encounter a higher prevalence of physical and psychological abuse, rape, or stalking by their intimate partners than heterosexual women or lesbians. Conversely, bisexual men also experience higher prevalence rates of stalking, rape, or physical and psychological abuse than heterosexual men or gays. The 2015 United States Transgender and National Transgender Discrimination surveys reinforced these findings; these surveys found that transgender people experience disproportionate violence rates, especially transgender people of color (James El al., 2016). However, the LGBT community has often cited law enforcement as ineffective in addressing IPV and IPSA abuse cases. This paper explores domestic violence’s dynamics and prevalence in LGBTQ populations and limitations to safety and accessing essential services.
Research Objectives
This paper’s main aim is to present a narrative review of literature on domestic violence in the LGB population, with focus on interventions and treatments addressed to perpetrators and victims. It identifies from the literature and suggests recommendation for future research for LGB-oriented community services, legal and ethical issues concerning the LGB population, and the overview’s themes.
Methodology
This paper’s main aim is to present a narrative review of literature on domestic violence in the LGB population, with a focus on interventions and treatments addressed to perpetrators and victims. It identifies from the research and suggests future directions in studies for LGB-oriented community services, legal and ethical issues concerning the LGB population, and the overview’s themes.
Methodology
The paper uses a qualitative method to analyze literature research; the literature review was conducted using different databases, including Google Scholar and other scholarly articles. The search criteria were limited to articles published in English between 2010 and 2020 and centered on domestic violence’s main features in the LGB community. It used some of these combinations of keywords to do the search: Bisexual domestic violence, intimate partner violence among same-sex, LGB intimate partner violence, LGB domestic violence.
Abuse in LGBT Community
Threatening to expose one partner’s sexual orientation is a tool used to abuse partners in violent relations; it may also be an obstacle that diminishes the possibility of help-seeking for the abused partners. Previous experiences of psychological or physical trauma, such as hate crime and bullying, have made LGBTQ domestic violence victims less likely to get help.
The LGBT community has also cited law enforcement is ineffective in addressing IPV and IPSA cases. LGBTIQ relationships or Intimate partner or domestic violence within such relations were mainly unrecognized until recently; such relationships have been overlooked by governmental policies, services, or practices; study in the field has also been limited (Barrett, 2015). Government, practice-based responses, policies, justice, and researches on domestic violence have disregarded a heterosexual context in which men feature as perpetrators and women as victims. The LGBTIQ groups have had some influence in acknowledging government agencies’ issues; however, this has not always rendered substantive policies or practice responses (Barrett, 2015). Lack of intimate partner violence acknowledgment within LGBTIQ identities is also considered a significant element contributing to abuse in those communities. Feminism is also considered a useful lens through which family, intimate partner, or domestic violence has been acknowledged. In this setting, intimate partner violence is perceived as an outcome of traditional gender roles, gender inequality, patriarchal social structures, and classical attitudes (Barrett, 2015).
Prevalence
There is limited data available on the domestic violence prevalence in LGBTIQ populations. However, some recent surveys have revealed that LGBTIQ communities experience various forms of discrimination and abuse. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey of 2010 found that respondents experienced intimate partner violence levels at rates equal to or greater than violence in heterosexuals (Black et al., 2011). Around 61% of bisexual women, 44% of lesbian, and 35% of heterosexual women endured rape, stalking, or physical violence by their partners in their lifetime (Black et al., 2011). Consequently, about 37% of bisexual men, 26% of gay, and 29% of heterosexual men underwent physical violence, stalking, or rape by an intimate partner in part of their lifetime (Black et al., 2011). The survey also found that an intimate partner has raped nearly 1 in 10 heterosexual women (9%) and approximately 1 in 5 bisexual women (22%) in their lifetime (Black et al., 2011).
Another survey of the 2015 United States Transgender Survey uncovered that more than half (54%) of participants underwent various intimate partner violence forms, such as physical harm and acts of coercive control (James El al., 2016). Nearly 47% of respondents experienced sexual assault in part of their lifetime; nearly one in ten were sexually assaulted in the previous year (James El al., 2016). However, these numbers were higher in numbers among people of color; 53% of Black participants had experienced sexual assault in their lifetime, with 13% sexually assaulted in the previous year (James El al., 2016).
As mentioned above, there is limited data due to a lack of recognition of violence within same-sex or gender diverse relations. Under-reporting of such violence has also contributed to the limited data. According to Lorenzetti and Moscati (2015), non-recognition stigma and discrimination of gender diverse or same-sex relations further present obstacles to the adequate collection of demographic and statistical data, thus obscuring the certainties of domestic violence in LGBTIQ populations.
Experiences of intimate partners or domestic violence in LGBTIQ populations
Some violence patterns in LGBTIQ relations are similar to those in heterosexual relations, but others are more precise (Lorenzetti & Moscati, 2015). Domestic violence in LGBTIQ communities happens within a structured environment of homo/bi/transphobia, heteronormativity forms of discrimination (Lorenzetti & Moscati, 2015). Despite LGBTIQ rights protection by that United States law, LGBTIQ populations still encounter high rates of abuse, harassment, or discrimination during their daily lives, including at school/study, in public, at work, in access to health and other essential services. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discrimination based on some aspects, including sex, which applies to gender identity and sexual orientation (Lorenzetti & Moscati, 2015). LGBTIQ communities also encounter social exclusion and stigma (Lorenzetti & Moscati, 2015).
Studies, including Messinger (2017) and Tomsich (2019), have suggested that abusive spouses within LGBTIQ communities may use heterosexism or homo/bi/transphobia to control their partners. For instance, the practice of revealing their partners’ HIV status or threatening them to do so often transpires. LGBTIQ partners may also use their partner’s identity or sexuality as a control tool by restricting their access to social networks or friends. Threatening to disclose about their transgender identity or same-sex relationship to their partner’s employer, families or friends usually results in fear of losing their jobs, families, or friends (Campo & Tayton, 2015). Internalized homophobia can confer an abuser as contempt for intimate partners (Lorenzetti & Moscati, 2015). Abusive partners may also use transphobia or homophobia to isolate and control a partner by intimating that they should not report the violence cases as they will be discriminated against by the law or services providers (Campo & Tayton, 2015). Moreover, fear of homophobia or isolation in the broader community may make victims continue being in a relationship with abusive partners (Campo & Tayton, 2015).
As mentioned, heteronormative perceptions of domestic violence may also deter victims from agreeing that they experience violence since it is predominately perceived as a phenomenon that only has impacts women being abuse by men. Many critics claim that idealized recognition of LGBTIQ relations further clouds domestic violence experiences, especially among lesbians and gays, whose relations have generally been perceived to exist outside of conventional power dynamics (Campo & Tayton, 2015). Therefore, gays and lesbians may have difficulty conceptualizing some actions, such as rape or any other physical or psychological abuse within an intimate relationship (Campo & Tayton, 2015).
Barriers to Seeking Services/Receiving Assistance
Lack of awareness/discrimination
Studies suggest that there are societal or traditional beliefs that domestic violence does not happen in LGBTQ relationships. Again service providers, including counselors, healthcare providers, and police officers, may lack sensitivity or understanding to issues specific to violence in LGBTIQ communities. At some point, they may unknowingly or knowingly discriminate against them (Messinger, 2017). Generally, domestic violence service providers are unaware of some of the tactics used by abusive partners in LGBTIQ communities, such as the threat of “outing” or revealing their identity as a tool to control them.
The uncertainties connected to “outing” oneself or risking rejection from society, friends, and family have contributed to discrimination against the LGBTIQ population (Messinger, 2017). Some service providers may not accept or welcome LGBTIQ communities, for instance, only providing female or male options in their services, thus marginalizing intersex and transgender people. Most domestic violence defenses are often female only, and trans people may not be allowed access due to their genital or legal status. Lack of acknowledging, understanding, or discriminating against LGBTIQ communities may harm transgender or intersex people more severely. Campo and Tayton (2015) reported that transgender people also experience discrimination in health or medical settings and other programs at higher rates than other groups.
