Domestic Violence in Both Gay and Lesbian Relationships - Essay Example

Gay and Lesbian Intimate Partner Abuse Gay and lesbian intimate partner abuse Domestic violence in both gay and lesbian relationships is an area that has not been of concern by the society. However, cases of violence in same-sex relationships are rising, and are beginning to cause alarm. Bisexual and transgender persons are also prone to abuse from their partners. Many people encounter many types of domestic abuse, and may have difficulties in reporting such cases to the authorities. A study that was carried out in Australia on the frequency of domestic violence in gay or lesbian relationships despite there being limited sources of information. It was, however, hard to determine the rate at which such cases occur, considering that a lion share of the data relied on cases of self- reporting or non-random samples. The study drew findings that about five out of a thousand of the women in lesbian relationships seek help from authorities on cases of violence, each month. A counseling body at Australia revealed that 11% of matters discussed while counseling involved cases of intimate partner violence. Gathering findings from a counseling body has limitations to information, since only information allowed by the client can be disclosed. Some of the counseling sessions involved the cases where a partner expressed the concern that the other was controlling them, cases where one would always initiate violence and other cases where one confessed to fearing the other (Chan, 2005). More studies carried out in the United States indicate that around 22%- 46% of the lesbians had been involved in relationships where the partner was violent. Further studies also disclose that about 15%- 20% of gay men have gone through domestic violence from their partners (Chan, 2005). Despite these studies being carried out based on self- selected samples, they are clear evidence that domestic violence in gay and lesbian relationships is indeed an issue that requires attention. Domestic violence in same-sex relationships may range from sexual, psychological, economic, emotional, or physical abuse. Domestic violence in same-sex relationships carries similarities with that of heterosexual relationships. Certain behaviors from one of the partners might involve maintenance of power and control over another that, in turn, induces fear in the other. There are also features of abuse that are only common to same-sex relationships. Such forms of abuse normally arise from the homophobic and heterosexist elements of the society (Chan, 2005). Homophobia is defined as an unfounded hatred or fear of homosexuals. Heterosexism, on the other hand, is defined as the use of heterosexuality as the established form of sexual identity. An abusive partner can rely on the two to dominate the other. Such type of an abuse may involve threatening to expose their partner to the authorities, friends, family or church. One may also fear losing custody of their children once a partner exposes them. A partner can also tell the other that the authorities of justice system may not help since they are homophobic. A partner may dominate the other by convincing them that the abusive habit is normal within same-sex relations (Chan, 2005). A malicious partner will also tell them that they do not understand gay or lesbian relationships, due to heterosexuality. In cases of gay men or lesbians living with HIV, there may be specific forms of abuse. Although HIV can affect even people in heterosexual relationships, their partners could use it as a form of blackmail. Most will not want such information to be disclosed, and it may influence negatively their places of work or social lives. The fear of exposure also lies in the fact that if the case is reported to the police, they may be in trouble because of homophobia. Though HIV may fail to be the cause of violence, it may be a factor in abuse, for instance, the inability to refuse unsafe intercourse in the case of a sexual assault and the threat to reveal the HIV status of a person (Chan, 2005). Victims of lesbian or gay abusive relationships sometimes prefer to stick to their abusive partners, since they will barely get support from any other. If one of the partners is positive for HIV, the partner may feel guilty about reporting, and a possible traitor to the gay community. Homophobia and Possible Hindrances to Seeking Help The reasons for a partner failing to seek help in cases of same-sex abusive relationships emanate from legal, political, or social reasons. It is not until of late that the outcome of the criminalization of sexual activity between gays and lesbians was nullified by the international legal action (Chan, 2005). There are laws that still outlaw sodomy. Even the World Health Organization did not declassify homosexuality as a pathological illness until the beginning of the nineties. Homophobic violence is recognized as a social problem. Surveys conducted estimate that 70-80% of gay men and lesbians suffered public verbal abuse because of their sexuality. There were close 30%- 40%-reported cases of threats of violence. About twenty percent of gay men confessed to having been abused physically, and 10-20% of lesbians also reported physical abuse (Chan, 2005). Other than the effects of stigma that come along with discrimination and homophobia, gays and lesbians are often cut off from their acquaintances and relatives. For this reason, cases of same gender relationships’ abuse will continue to occur with no significant measures being carried out. Homophobia is one factor that stigmatizes the abused partners, stopping them from accessing help from authorities. The fear surrounding abuse in gay and lesbian relationships may also be influenced by the fear that acknowledging it may cause more societal homophobia that may contribute to prejudice about same-sex relationships. There are misconceptions that similar-sex based violence must be equal. Research confirms that gays and lesbians rarely report cases of assault from their partners. Another survey reports that more than 50% of lesbian crime survivors have no contact with the police or delay contacting them (Chan, 2005). The fact that there is societal phobia and discrimination and the chances that gay people may have had cases of homophobia in the past means that many would be afraid of asking for assistance. Gay people in relationships may also have come from cultures that may have poor relationships with the police, or that may have faced discrimination in the provision of services. This creates an even wider barrier for them. Abuse is a behavioral pattern where emotional coercion of physical violence is used to maintain or gain power in a relationship. Types of abuse may be physical. Physical types of abuse are such as biting, use of weapons, confining, hitting, or restricting the mobility of a partner. The types of sexual abuse are such as sexual assault while using or not using weapons, forcing any sexual acts or assaulting a partner for failing to engage in sexual activity. Psychological or emotional abuse has examples such as overdone criticism, humiliation that may include calling names, restricted access to personal or social amenities, or even friends, there may also be cases of misogynistic, homophobic, or racist attacks (Chan, 2005). Other forms of abuse involve making threats that may involve harming the partner or their friends and family. Other kinds of threats may involve causing one to lose custody over their children, or threats to expose the state of being lesbian or gay. There may also be forms of abuse such as the destruction of property or personal belongings. The partner suffering abuse may consider measures such as joining a support group, finding out their legal rights, learning about the resources available in the society, or seeking counsel from professionals. Reference Chan, C. (2005). Domestic Violence in Gay and Lesbian Relationships. Australian Domestic And family violence ClearingHouse. Retrievd from http://www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/PDF%20files/Gay_Lesbian.pdf Read More