Serving LGBTQ Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Have you ever watched a movie or TV show where there is an abusive partner in the relationship? Maybe you know a friend or relative that experiences abuse in their relationship. Unfortunately, this is a real experience for many people in society.

We see relationships almost everywhere we go, whether we are at a park, a movie theater, or a restaurant. From the outside, many relationships can look happy, but the reality is that we cannot always see abuse. Abuse can take shape in forms that are not always physical, but can escalate to that level when non-physical tactics become ineffective.

Leaving an abusive relationship or seeking assistance can be scary and difficult for anyone in an abusive relationship. For marginalized populations, the difficulties of these relationships can be compounded by additional factors. For example, the LGBTQ community have additional layers of fear, anxiety and reluctance when seeking services.