Broken Rainbow is the only UK-wide domestic violence service offering confidential support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people. In addition to our helpline (see number below) we work to raise awareness around the devastating impact domestic violence can have on victims’ lives, by providing training and support to generic domestic violence agencies and others.
Broken Rainbow is keen to build links with individuals and organisations throughout the UK, so get in touch if you think we can help you in any way.
Contact:
Website - www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
Administration - 08452 60 55 60
e-mail - mail@broken-rainbow.org.uk
HELPLINE: 08452 60 44 60
Opening times: Monday 2-8pm, Wednesday 10-1pm, Thursday 2-8pm
Domestic abuse affects around one in four LGBT people in the UK. It is not always physical; it can take many forms including emotional, financial and sexual abuse. It can include controlling a person’s contact with family and friends, withholding affection, isolation and verbal threats.
IN AN EMERGENCY: CALL 999
Article in NCSN monthly newspaper for July 2008. Thought you might like to read it.
Research shows that the prevalence of domestic violence in same sex relationships is just as high as it is in heterosexual ones. Awareness and acknowledgement of the issue is however low and there is real lack of available services for victims and survivors to access. Recent legislative changes like the introduction of Civil Partnerships and the Equality Act 2006 have made same sex couples more visible and this has as a result made the existence of domestic abuse within those relationships more visible too.
Domestic violence affects the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community at the same rate as that of domestic violence in general. Research has generally shown that around 1 in 4 LGBT people will at some point experience homophobic, transphobic and/or same sex domestic violence in their lives.
The LGBT community is a cross-section of society and can experience multi-discrimination from services providers and their communities. LGBT victim/survivors who experience domestic violence find it difficult to approach services and often stay in the abusive relationship for fear being outed, or having to out themselves in order to get support. LGBT people face further stigmatisation and isolation from agencies and their communities because same sex domestic violence is not generally recognised.
There is a need for mainstream domestic violence services to be more accessible to the LGBT community. Services need to be more inclusive in understanding the complexities of the issues in same sex relationships and revise policies and practices that meet the needs of LGBT victims/survivors. Ensuring training for staff and service users around inclusiveness of all LGBT victim/survivors is paramount.
In addition to the widely acknowledged types of abuse faced by all victims, further issues can prevent LGBT people accessing mainstream services or from getting appropriate support. A lack of understanding, training, or simply perceptions and stereotypes all contribute to deny the existence of domestic violence in same sex relationships. Other factors may affect a person’s decision to seek help, these include:
- The abuse becomes associated with sexual orientation or gender identity - Confidentiality and isolation within the LGBT communities - Silence around sexual violence - Real or perceived homophobia - Need to come out in order to access services and how they will be treated - Lack of appropriate or specialist services
Collection of data is also an issue as many statistics on domestic violence, whilst recording that the offender is a partner or ex-partner, do not differentiate as to whether the couple are in a heterosexual or same sex relationship.
There are some specialised projects around the country, which can provide help and support to victims, however these are few in number.
Broken Rainbow is the only national agency across the UK to provide specialist support to the LGBT community around domestic violence. The Helpline is run by trained LGBT staff and volunteers. The Broken Rainbow National LGBT DV Helpline is open Mondays & Thursdays 2 - 8pm and Wednesdays 10am - 1pm.
In addition to the helpline, Broken Rainbow works to provide training to raise awareness of the LGBT cultural issues in relation to domestic violence, along with the appropriate services needed by LGBT people. It supports victims, survivors, family and friends of LGBT people experiencing domestic violence.
Please call or pass on this telephone number 08452 60 44 60 to anyone who needs advice or support around LGBT domestic violence. http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
Melvin Hartley (Chief Executive of Broken Rainbow and adviser to the Board of NSCN)
