Two recent studies demonstrate the extent of domestic abuse in same-sex relationships and refute the myths that only heterosexual women are victims of domestic abuse, that men are never victims and that women are never the perpetrators
Two recent studies demonstrate the extent of domestic abuse in same-sex relationships and refute the myths that only heterosexual women are victims of domestic abuse, that men are never victims and that women are never the perpetrators, reports The Advocate.
The National Violence Against Women survey found that 21.5 percent of men and 35.4 percent of women living with a same-sex partner experienced physical violence in their lifetimes. This is compared with 7.1 percent and 20.4 percent respectively for men and women in opposite-sex relationships.
The Centers For Disease Control's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, updated in 2013, reports that the lifetime prevalence of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner was 43.8 percent for lesbians, 61.1 percent for bisexual women, and 35 percent for heterosexual women, while it was 26 percent for gay men, 37.3 percent for bisexual men, and 29 percent for heterosexual men.
According to Beth Leventhal, executive director of The Network/La Red in Boston, thanks to the combination of reports like these and the Obama administration being active on LGBT issues, there has been increased funding for services to address domestic abuse in same-sex relationships.
Last year, Congress passed an LGBT-inclusive Violence Against Women Act.
