ABA releases tool kit for LGBT domestic abuse survivors

The idea of domestic violence between two men or two women isn't as apparent as, say, heterosexual partner violence, but partner abuse is as prevalent among same gender loving people as women in heterosexual relationships. This is all according to a newly released tool kit for LGBT victims of abuse and their attorneys by the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Domestic Violence in collaboration with The National LGBT Bar Association.

LGBT partner abuse may ring the same alarms as heterosexual couple violence, but anti-gay sentiment and internalized homophobia add additional layers of turbulence. "Perpetrators of domestic violence in LGBT relationships may also use society's bias against their partner's sexual orientation or gender identity to abuse and isolate their partner," says the ABA. In fact, between one-third and a forth of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in relationships experience domestic violence.

Despite these findings, barriers to addressing LGBT domestic violence remain, largely due to the dearth of information about same-sex partner abuse and lack of service center training. "Social service, criminal justice and medical personnel remain largely deficient in their ability to serve LGBT people who are the victims of domestic violence," states the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) on their web site.

There are legal options available to victims, NCAVP also writes. That's where the ABA tool kit comes into play. Learn more about Orders of Protection, your legal rights and ways to tell if you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic abuse after the jump.