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Domestic Violence and Abuse in LGBTQ+ Communities

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Gender-Based Violence: A Comprehensive Guide

Abstract

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.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 updated the definition from financial to economic abuse to accommodate the range of ways abusers might restrict how survivors acquire, use, and maintain money and economic resources, including accommodation, food, and clothing, even after a relationship has ended (for example by negatively affecting the survivor’s credit history) (Adams et al. 2008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK

    Kirsty McGregor

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  1. Kirsty McGregor
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Correspondence to Kirsty McGregor .

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  1. The Health Sciences School, University of Sheffield, SHEFFIELD, UK

    Parveen Ali

  2. Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield, SHEFFIELD, UK

    Michaela M. Rogers

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McGregor, K. (2023). Domestic Violence and Abuse in LGBTQ+ Communities. In: Ali, P., Rogers, M.M. (eds) Gender-Based Violence: A Comprehensive Guide. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05640-6_34

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