Abuse & Exploitation

Abuse & exploitation can affect anyone, but they can take additional special forms for their victims in our LGB&T communities.  This page provides some information to help you know about abuse & exploitation, as it is common to be a victim but realise you are.

The LGB&T Dorset Equality Network can be contacted to provide support to LGB&T victims of abuse & exploitation; this support can include discussing/sharing with us your experiences to help you have more information, receive signposting to report your experiences or make a complaint.  You can contact us with confidence that any information shared will be kept in strict confidentiality.  Contact us details.

Information about abuse & exploitation (Dorset Police information page): this webpage contains information about types of abuse, exploitation and neglect.

GALOP is the main national helpline and assistance service for LGB&T victims of DV and DA.  The helpline is for LGBT people, their family, friends, and agencies supporting them. The helpline provides a space to talk through what’s going on, and to explore your options. Phone: 0300 999 5428   Email: help@galop.org.uk

Abuse takes many forms, including Domestic Violence (DV), Domestic Abuse (DA) in particular, however the Network also includes two particular special forms of specifically LGB&T experienced/orientated abuse in its recognised categories of abusive behaviour.  These are Exploitation-Abuse and Anti-LGB&T Indoctrination Psychological Abuse (details are included below on this page), to which must also be added Forced Marriage (for more information including about the Forced Marriage Unit plesse see this article in the Guardian).

The LGB&T Dorset Equality Network can be contacted if you feel you are a victim of these additional forms of abuse, or have concerns about someone who you feel could be a victim.


The remainder of this page provides more information, including descriptions, and Stonewall information.

The categories of information are:

  • DV & DA
  • Exploitation-Abuse
  • Anti-LGB&T Indoctrination Psychological Abuse
  • Stonewall information

Domestic Violence & Domestic Abuse: 

Statistically LGB&T people are at greater risk of these two evils than their heterosexual and binary counterparts in broader society.

Although research is continuing to be undertaken into why this should be the case, it is correct to say that if anti-LGB&T prejudice, discrimination, and family and [non-LGB&T] friends rejection factors in regard to self-identifying LGB&T’s and ‘outed’ LGB&T’s are taken into consideration, then the particular vulnerabilities of an LGB or T couple to DV are multiplied where there is a difference between one partner being ‘Out’ and other not Out.

There are also differing degrees of availability of family and friend support (or its absence and replacement by enmity in regard to LGB&T inclusion, respect and acceptance of an LGB or T person.  Individuals react in different ways under pressure, especially the types of extreme pressures that heteronormative and binary exclusivism by default or explicitly impose on sexual & gender minorities.

Domestic Violence and Domestic Abuse are unacceptable and criminal forms of behaviour at all times, and it is the duty of all responsible agencies to make this clear and offer the means for DV and DA victims to understand that what they are enduring is not ‘normal’ not ‘love’ not just a ‘part of life.’

It is also those agencies duty to provide safe and credible escape mechanisms for those suffering from DV or DA.  Currently it is though the voluntary and community sector that are most diligent and effective in offering those escape mechanisms.  Regarding LGB&T victims of DV or DA, support from the statutory agencies and authorities continues, at a general level due to ineffective education and awareness raising, to be particularly meagre or absent due to incomprehension about being a member of a sexual orientation or gender minority.

However this is gradually changing (as will be seen in sections of the Stonewall information at the end of this page).  Locally the LGB&T Dorset Equality Networks is working with a range of partnering organisations including rape reporting agencies and Dorset Police to improve support to LGB&T individuals experiencing DV and DA.

Stonewall information regarding housing support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people experiencing domestic abuse

Stonewall Housing is the specialist lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) housing advice and support provider in England. They have produced a guide on housing options for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people who are experiencing domestic abuse.


Exploitation-abuse:

Exploitation-abuse is a particularly insidious phenomenon.  In the LGB&T context it takes such forms as an old/elderly person being exploited by a young/younger person using sexual interests, loneliness and social isolation as contexts for this to take place; such predatory behaviour can also take place in reverse where the manipulation of an older, worldly LGB or T person of a younger LGB&T person who may still be coming to terms with their sexual orientation or gender identity, is involved.  ‘Befriending’ is the façade that fronts such behaviour which often crosses the line of being criminal behaviour.

The Network can provide signposting advice to help raise awareness to those who may find themselves in such positions of vulnerability and perceived exploitation and related forms of abuse.  Anyone contacting us can be assured that your identity will not be shared with any third party unless you wish to do so and give your authorisation.  This is because we are aware that due to continued problems of de facto heterosexist, homophobic and binary [non-gender fluid/third gender-trans identity and self-identification] perspectives and assumptions, any open disclosure or self-disclosure as LGB or T can involve unacceptable vulnerability to discrimination, prejudice and attendant risks to privacy, peace of mind and risks of persecution for who one is.


Anti-LGB&T Indoctrination Psychological Abuse

Anti-LGB&T indoctrination-abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. The Network also considers heterosexist and inflexible binary perceptions of gender that are indoctrinated into the young [young persons and children] and the unwary, to be clear forms of exploitative [of the vulnerable] behaviour and mental/psychological abuse, which is explicit abuse of the young and vulnerable adults when such indoctrination inculcates unambiguously anti-LGBT views, thinking and behaviour as normal, acceptable, desirable.

Failure to teach about diversity, individuality and inclusion in schools and faith schools and religious entities  is an accompanying, disempowering, controlling form of behaviour that compliments overt homophobic bi-phobic and transphobic indoctrination of those not in a position of freedom.


Stonewall information: http://www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/criminal-law/domestic-violence

The UK Home Office defines domestic violence and abuse as:

‘Any incident, or pattern of incidents, of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.’

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Psychological
  • Physical
  • Sexual
  • Financial
  • Emotional

Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape, and regulating their everyday behaviour.

Coercive behaviour is an act, or a pattern of acts, of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation, or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

Domestic violence includes so-called ‘honour’ based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.

 Domestic violence can happen to anyone

Stonewall’s research shows that one in four lesbian and bi women have experienced domestic abuse in a relationship. Two thirds of those say the perpetrator was a woman, a third a man. Almost half (49%) of all gay and bi men have experienced at least one incident of domestic abuse from a family member or partner since the age of 16.

There is limited research on how many trans people experience domestic abuse in the UK, and the best studies have small group samples. However, these figures suggest it is a significant issue. A report by the The Scottish Transgender Alliance indicates that 80% of trans people had experienced emotional, sexual, or physical abuse from a partner or ex-partner.

Information for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people experiencing domestic abuse

Dagenham and Barking PCT have produced a range of resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, their family and friends about domestic abuse. They give details on what abuse can look like for LGBT people, why it happens and how to keep safe. These guides were written in partnership with LGBT people and organisations who support them.

Housing support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people experiencing domestic abuse

Stonewall Housing is the specialist lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) housing advice and support provider in England. They have produced a guide on housing options for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Get more support

If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger you should contact the police on 999.

For further information, advice and support contact Galop, who run a national  LGBT domestic violence helpline. The helpline is for LGBT people, their family, friends, and agencies supporting them. The helpline provides a space to talk through what’s going on, and to explore your options.

Phone: 0300 999 5428

Email: help@galop.org.uk