LGBT* experience of Domestic Violence & Abuse Peter Kelley June 2016 Copyright ©Galop Galop Unit 2G Leroy House 436 Essex Road London N1 3QP 020 7704 6767 (office 020 7704 2040 (helpline) www.gallop.org.uk

About this session GBT men & Domestic Abuse Experiences of DVA Barriers to accessing help Perpetrator issues Case study

About Galop Galop is London’s LGBT* community safety voluntary organisation Lead Partner of the LGBT* Domestic Abuse Partnership Unique Service working with LGBT* victims/survivors of violence and abuse

LGBT* Domestic Abuse Partnership Pan-London specialist LGBT* service Helpline advice and support DV advocacy service Counselling Housing advice and advocacy Access to other specialist services Referrals@galop.org.uk www.LGBT*dap.org.uk

Sexual and gender diversity Identities Sexual and gender diversity gender identity/ expression Cisgender man trans man non-binary transvestite sexual orientation gay bisexual heterosexual identity ______ expression Sexual orientation – who you fancy – romantic – sexual Gender identity – internal sense of who you are – Can be different to gender assigned at birth or how you appear Everyone has both

About LGBT* community 1.7% of adults in England identified as LGB 3.2% of London 8% defined as non-heterosexual to GPs in healthcare settings No reliable data on trans people <1% 20% people believe LGB relationships ‘to be wrong in principal’ (2013 Social Attitudes Survey)

GBT Domestic Abuse Estimated 1 in 4 LGB people experience DVA (Donovan 2006) Figure higher for trans people 1.3% of DV survivors identified as LGB (Safer Lives, 2014) none were trans 20% identified as gay 0.7% high risk MARAC cases LGBT* 0.3% MPS DVA cases flagged as LGBT*

GBT men contacting the LGBT* DAP 70% contacts are gay/bi men 5-10% are trans, non-binary or other – though few trans men Most gay/bi men experiencing violence from intimate gay/bi male partners Smaller number experiencing violence within a family context including HBV/forced marriage Complex/intersectional risks/needs – e.g. around identity, substance misuse, mental health Other forms of abuse/violence – i.e. sexual violence, stalking, etc.

GBT Domestic Abuse DVA disproportionately affects women and girls LGBT* DVA absent from the ‘public story’ of gender based violence (Donovan & Hester 2010) Historically GBT experiences minimised both within LGBT* communities and within society Few GBT men experienced working with GBT survivors/perps & little best practice evidence GBT experiences go unrecognised, sensationalised or lack understanding

Recent examples of murders of GBT men Deaths of 4 gay men in Barking & Dagenham (2013-15) Murder of Gordon Semple in Southwark (2016) Murder of Michael Polding Brighton (2012)

Unique forms of GBT DVA Abused, threatened & controlled because of your identity Being outed, including using social media/apps Disclosing HIV status Ostracised by family/community Threats to men on spousal visas/racism/discrimination Sexual violence Use of chems

GBT perpetrator issues Perps can use victim’s identity against them in order to isolate/control them Counter allegations as a way of preventing action by the CJS and others Sometimes easier to access services and present as a victim/survivor Perpetrators are also vulnerable – e.g. substance misuse, risk of suicide/self harm. Currently no organisation working with LGBT* perpetrators

Exercise: Who is the victim/survivor?

Myths and stereotypes Gender normativity Gender equity – idea of mutual abuse Physical size, age, class, ethnicity Homo/biphobia & masculinity Transphobia – trans men as ‘imposters’

Barriers to getting help GBT relationships can present differently ‘Same-sex’ DVA not always applicable to all trans men Victim doesn’t recognise or minimises DVA Services aren’t accessible to GBT men It can be more challenging to identify victim/perp e.g. when there are counter-allegations

Barriers to getting help Accessing support requires disclosing identity (affected by secrecy/silence) Secondary victimisation Social isolation/few relationship role models May not show as high risk e.g. DASH Complex cases - substance misuse & mental health

Case study What are the issues being presented? What are potential victim/ perpetrator issues? What are the barriers to getting help?

Useful Contacts & Resources Galop’s website has lots of information, including the PDF of the ‘Shining the Light’ document: www.galop.org.uk See also www.LGBT*dap.org.uk For specific questions and referrals, contact: referrals@galop.org.uk peter@galop.org.uk