Domestic and Family Violence within LGBTIQ Communities factsheet

Attachments

• Domestic and Family Violence within LGBTIQ Communities [226 kB]
  • Listen to PDF
• Domestic and Family Violence within LGBTIQ Communities [99.4 kB]

Date:  15 February 2019

In Australia, domestic and family violence is not accepted.

People who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) have equal rights in Australia, and all discrimination is illegal.

In Australia, all relationships are equal under the law. This means that all couples, including same-sex couples, have the right to be in a relationship or marry.

Everyone has the right to experience positive and safe relationships with their families, friends and loved ones.

Domestic and family violence are crimes against the law. A person who commits these crimes can go to jail, whether they are a man or a woman.

The Australian Government does not tolerate domestic and family violence under any circumstances.

Domestic and family violence includes behaviour or threats that aim to control a partner by causing fear or threatening their safety. Domestic and family violence can include:

• hitting;
• choking;
• denying essential money to the partner or family;
• isolating the partner from friends and family;
• insulting or criticising the partner; or
• threatening children or pets.

Domestic and family violence in LGBTIQ relationships can also include:

• threatening to use the partner’s intersex status, sexuality, gender, gender expression, transgender or HIV status against them;
• threatening to ‘out’ the partner to their family, friends, community or workplace;
• controlling the partner’s medications or access to gender transition related healthcare; or
• pressuring the partner to conform to sex or gender norms.

There are support services in Australia that can help.

ACON provides free information on health issues affecting LGBTIQ people, including family and domestic violence. Go to the ACON website at www.acon.org.au for a directory of inclusive LGBTIQ support services.

1800RESPECT is australia’s national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling service. It provides free, confidential telephone and online counselling and information. Counsellors will listen to you, answer questions and can refer you to other support services in your local area.

Call 1800 737 732 or go to LGBTIQ specific information section on the 1800RESPECT website at www.1800RESPECT.org.au.

Do you need an interpreter?

Call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. An interpreter from TIS can help you to communicate with other services, however TIS does not provide counselling. All calls are free and confidential.

Last updated: 20 February 2019 - 3:05pm