STUDY: Domestic Violence Among LGBT Community On The Rise

A new report by The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, released today, reveals a significant increase in intimate partner violence among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected community.

According to the Intimate Partner Violence in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected (LGBTQH) Communities in the United States in 2011 report:

In 2011, NCAVP documented 19 intimate partner violence (IPV) homicides, the highest yearly total ever recorded by the coalition and more than three times the 6 documented homicides in 2010. Of the 19 homicide victims, a majority (63.2%) of IPV homicide victims were men, a significant shift from 2010 when 66.7% of LGBTQH homicide victims identified as women.

“This year’s report indicates that men are disproportionately victims of homicide in incidents of intimate partner violence,” said Gary Heath, Domestic Violence Program Coordinator at Ohio’s Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization.  “NCAVP’s report shows that the societal understanding of IPV survivors needs to expand to include gay men.”

Additionally the report showed that LGBTQH people under 30 are nearly twice as likely to experience physical violence, while LGBTQH people of color under 30 are nearly 4 times as likely.  Read More