Understanding Abuse in LGBTQ+ Relationships

What You’ll Learn

• Defining Abuse in LGBTQ+ Relationships

  • Learn about the various forms of abuse that can occur in LGBTQ+ relationships, including physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse.
  • Understand how abuse in LGBTQ+ relationships can differ from or mirror abuse in heterosexual relationships, with unique dynamics and challenges.

• Recognizing the Signs of Abuse in LGBTQ+ Partnerships

  • Discover how to identify the signs of abuse in LGBTQ+ relationships, which may include controlling behavior, isolation, manipulation, verbal threats, and physical violence.
  • Learn about less visible forms of abuse, such as emotional manipulation, gaslighting, or using a partner’s gender identity or sexual orientation as a tool of control.

• The Impact of Abuse in LGBTQ+ Relationships

  • Explore the emotional, psychological, and physical toll that abuse can have on LGBTQ+ individuals, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and feelings of shame or isolation.
  • Understand the impact of abuse on one’s sense of self-worth, safety, and mental health, especially in the context of a marginalized identity.

• Barriers to Reporting and Seeking Help

  • Learn about the specific barriers that LGBTQ+ survivors face when seeking help, including fear of discrimination, being outed, lack of LGBTQ+-friendly resources, and societal stigma.
  • Understand the added complexities of navigating abusive relationships while trying to protect one’s sexual orientation or gender identity from being exposed against their will.

• The Role of Internalized Homophobia and Transphobia

  • Understand how internalized homophobia, transphobia, or societal rejection can affect the way LGBTQ+ individuals experience and respond to abuse in relationships.
  • Learn how these internalized feelings may lead to self-blame, minimizing abuse, or difficulty seeking support.

• Intersectionality and Abuse in LGBTQ+ Communities

  • Explore how factors like race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, and immigration status intersect with abuse in LGBTQ+ relationships, compounding challenges and risks.
  • Learn about the additional layers of oppression that affect the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in abusive relationships, especially for those from marginalized groups.

• Healthy Relationship Dynamics in LGBTQ+ Partnerships

  • Understand the characteristics of healthy relationships in LGBTQ+ communities, including mutual respect, communication, trust, and shared decision-making.
  • Learn how recognizing and fostering healthy relationships can prevent abuse and provide a foundation for safety and well-being.

• The Importance of LGBTQ+-Inclusive Support Systems

  • Discover the significance of finding and accessing LGBTQ+-specific resources, shelters, and support groups that are inclusive and sensitive to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ survivors.
  • Learn how to build an inclusive support network of family, friends, and professionals who respect and understand LGBTQ+ identities and experiences.

• Legal Protections for LGBTQ+ Survivors of Abuse

  • Understand the legal rights of LGBTQ+ survivors of abuse, including protections against domestic violence, stalking, and harassment, and how to access these protections.
  • Learn about laws related to gender identity and sexual orientation in domestic violence cases, and how to navigate legal systems that may not always be fully inclusive of LGBTQ+ experiences.

• Creating a Safety Plan in an LGBTQ+ Context

  • Learn how to develop a personalized safety plan that addresses the specific challenges faced by LGBTQ+ survivors, including issues of discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia.
  • Discover strategies for leaving an abusive relationship, including how to protect your privacy, safety, and identity during the process.