Domestic Violence and Abuse in LGBTQ+ Communities

This chapter offers a summary of who lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer communities are; how domestic violence and abuse manifests within lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer communities; and the risk and protective factors associated with domestic violence and abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer communities. Taking an international perspective, the chapter highlights that domestic violence and abuse within lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer communities is highly prevalent and has significant implications for victim/survivors and wider society. Explanations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer domestic violence and abuse argue that the social and cultural context of the relationship(s) is key to understanding it, yet research in this field is in it’s infancy, particularly in relation to bisexual, trans, and non-binary people. This chapter draws attention to the multifaceted nature of violence and abuse in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people, noting many challenges in preventing and addressing it. The chapter concludes with a case study of fatal domestic abuse highlighting the need for further research which explores the intersectional factors impacting domestic violence and abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer communities.