ANROWS Research report, Issue 10, May 2020

This research explores how we might begin to improve the recognition and understanding of LGBTQ intimate partner violence among both mainstream and domestic and family violence service providers, and within LGBTQ communities.
This collaborative research project between Relationships Australia New South Wales (RANSW) and ACON (formerly the AIDS Council of NSW) was designed as a pilot study to tailor and deliver existing perpetrator and victim/survivor group programs to LGBTQ people who use, or are affected by the use of violence within their intimate relationships.

The study found that domestic and family violence and intimate partner violence (DFV/IPV) was perceived by community members and professional stakeholders to be a heterosexual issue that did not easily apply to LGBTQ relationships. In particular, many community members held the view that relationships between LGBTQ people could avoid the inherent sexism and patriarchal values of heterosexual, cisgender relationships, and, by implication, avoid DFV/IPV. Participants also reported that the term “domestic violence” almost exclusively evoked physical harm, as opposed to non-physical forms of violence such as identity-based abuse, and this further distanced the concept from LGBTQ experience.

The report includes recommendations for policy and practice. (From the website). The 18 page Research to Policy & Practice report is also available. #Record #6676