by Dena Miller — Coordinator of Events, Interns, and Volunteers at Family & Community Resources, Inc.
June is a great month packed with tons of fun celebrations and events for LGBTQ+ Pride. But it is also an opportunity to learn more about the needs and challenges faced by the queer community and ways we can support them. One such challenge is overcoming the myth that domestic violence does not occur in LGBTQ+ relationships. The reality is that domestic violence occurs at higher rates in LGBTQ+ couples, with 61% of bisexual women, 44% of lesbian women, 37.3% of bisexual men, 29% of gay men, and 54% of trans and non-binary individuals experiencing violence from a partner at some time in their life (compared with 35% of straight women and 26% of straight men).
At Family and Community Resources, we believe that everyone has the right to feel safe and loved in their relationships. Our Domestic Violence Advocacy services are available to all, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, and our advocates are specially trained to safety plan and assist individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to modeling diversity, inclusivity, and equity within our organization, where our values focus on choice, acceptance, hope, and dignity.
Here are some ways you can help support LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence this month and every month:
- Mirror the terms someone uses to describe their partner, identity, anatomy, etc., avoiding the use of gendered language.
- Focus on strength, resilience, and pride.
- Strive to understand how their LGBTQ+ identity intersects with other parts of how they identify, and how that impacts their actions (i.e., race, economic status, religion, etc.).
- Be an active, informed bystander; listen to what survivors have to share and strive to create an affirming and inclusive environment.
Pride is a celebration of freedom, and Family and Community Resources strives to create a community in which everyone is free to love anyone they choose and receive the love they deserve. To find more resources available to survivors and how you can help, visit these sources.
Family and Community Resources, Inc. – https://www.fcr-ma.org/domestic-violence-services
The Human Rights Campaign – https://www.hrc.org/resources/understanding-intimate-partner-violence-in-the-lgbtq-community
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence – https://www.hrc.org/resources/understanding-intimate-partner-violence-in-the-lgbtq-community
Community Voices for Health 