This report was commissioned by the State Government of Victoria, and was produced by Our Watch in partnership with Dr Philomena Horsley and GLHV@ARCSHS, La Trobe University.

This research project has been commissioned by the Victorian government in response to needs identified by the Royal Commission into Family Violence. Recognising the significant gaps in research and knowledge with respect to family violence against people from lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, and intersex (LGBTI) communities, this research specifically focuses on the prevention of family violence against LGBTI people. In order to identify effective prevention strategies for LGBTI
communities, it is necessary to understand LGBTI people’s experiences of violence, including family violence.

National and international research suggests that the rates of family violence against LGBTI people is as high as, if not higher than, family violence against heterosexual, cisgendered women and their children. Despite this, little is understood about what drives this violence. Many researchers and LGBTI community representatives have long argued that people from LGBTI communities are likely to experience higher than average rates of violence from many types of individuals, and at multiple points in their lifetime. For many, violence is experienced during childhood, in school and work settings, out in the public domain, and within relationships with intimate partners, parents, siblings, children, housemates and carers.

This report distils existing international and national evidence pertaining to family violence against LGBTI people. It includes a review of research on the broader determinants of violence against LGBTI people which, this paper argues, have an impact on rates and patterns of family violence specific to LGBTI people. (From the Executive summary). Record #5919