February marks LGBT History Month and is a chance to reflect on the challenges faced by the community both historically and today, as well as to celebrate steps taken towards a future free from discrimination on the basis of who we are and who we love. In this blog post, one call handler on Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline considers how we can use lessons from LGBT History Month to ensure that our helpline continues to be an inclusive space for all and meets the needs of LGBT+ callers.
***CONTENT WARNING – The following blog post includes descriptions of abusive behaviour. Read with care.***
The legacy of Section 28
This year’s (2020) LGBT History Month theme is ‘what have we learned?’. It is a call to consider the long-term impact of Section 28 (of the Local Government 1988 Act) which prohibited the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in schools. This prevented a generation of teachers from talking about same-sex relationships and a generation of young people from accessing the learning, support and safety they should have expected at school. The legislation created a culture of silence around LGBT+ issues, with teachers fearing that standing up to homophobia or even mentioning same-sex relationships could result in prosecution. Since its repeal in 2000 in Scotland, and 2003 in England and Wales, people from across the LGBT+ community have shared the negative impact that this silencing had.
In answer to the question ‘what have we learned?’, one key lesson to draw is that silence, and the inability to get support, can have dangerous consequences.
Domestic abuse in LGBT+ relationships
Domestic abuse can happen in all types of intimate relationships, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and it is never acceptable. Whether in same-sex or mixed-sex relationships, it can include a wide range of behaviours perpetrated by a partner or ex-partner. This could be physical or sexual assaults, threats, stalking, non-consensual sharing of intimate images and, since the introduction of Scotland’s new domestic abuse law in April 2019, controlling and coercive behaviours – including emotional and financial abuse. Though these same behaviours can occur in all types of intimate relationships, it is important to recognise the ways in which domestic abuse can manifest differently in relationships where one or more people are LGBT+ and the different risks and barriers they may face.
LGBT+ people can sometimes experience unique forms of abuse, as perpetrators may use their sexual orientation or gender identity to abuse them. Perpetrators may use threats to ‘out’ the victim-survivor as a means of exerting control, or may criticise someone for not being a ‘real’ LGB person, for example if they have had a previous heterosexual relationship. It is common for perpetrators in heterosexual relationships to accuse the victim-survivor of cheating, often using this accusation both as a slur and a ‘justification’ for monitoring and isolating them. In relationships where the victim-survivor is bi- or pan-sexual, perpetrators can use biphobic stereotypes to belittle them, as well as accusing them of cheating with people of any gender. Domestic abuse against trans and non-binary people could include criticising them for not being a ‘real woman/man’, refusing to use their chosen pronouns or name, or withholding medication or hormones that they might need.
It is common for perpetrators to isolate victim-survivors, and one way of doing this is to tell them that no-one cares or will be able to help. Telling the victim-survivor that no-one will help because agencies are homophobic or transphobic is another way that perpetrators can use a partner’s LGBT+ identity as part of the domestic abuse.
One of the most damaging legacies of Section 28 is that it can be easy to believe that there is no-one out there who you can safely talk to if you are LGBT+ and experiencing abuse. This is an understandable fear, but there are safe places to contact for support.
Help and support
If you would like to talk about domestic abuse, or forced marriage, Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline offers a specialist, confidential service. This could be if you think you might be experiencing domestic abuse yourself, if you’re worried about someone else, or if you are a professional looking for more information. We are here to support people from all sexual orientations and gender identities, and recognise that this may or may not form a part of the domestic abuse. We are open 24/7, 365 days a year, and are free to contact.
You can call us on 0800 027 1234, email helpline@sdafmh.org.uk, or contact us through webchat on our website: www.sdafmh.org.uk.
The following services also provide support and/or information:
The National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline (Galop)
