Because silence is deadly. Summary report September 2013 LGBT. domestic abuse forum

Transcription

1 Because silence is deadly Summary report September 201 LGBT domestic abuse forum

2 What is domestic abuse? Contents The government definition of domestic abuse is: Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or 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. This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following types of abuse: 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. This definition, which is not a legal definition, includes so called honour based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage, and is clear that victims are not confined to one gender or ethnic group. 1 The experience of abuse 4 2 Seeking help: personally 10 Seeking help: services 12 4 The service experience 16 5 Who responded 21

3 ROAR: survey results ROAR: because silence is deadly This report is a summary of the results of a survey we conducted with lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* survivors of domestic abuse. We had responses from 14 people to the survey: some answered all the questions; others answered a selection of the questions. We asked them to tell us what the lived experience of domestic abuse is like, if or when they tried to find help, support advice or accommodation. We wanted to hear about those organisations and services that had responded positively, and those whose response had been negative. The final ROAR report will be based on this summary plus feedback and learning gathered at the ROAR conference. The final report will also include recommendations for future service delivery and will be circulated to stakeholders, trusts, funding organisations, and service commissioners. We thank all those who took part in this survey. To the 14 respondents, we promise to honour your truthfulness and with the help of those at the conference, along with the wider LGBT and domestic abuse sectors, will ensure that your experiences are heard. Maria Sookias LGBT DAF co-ordinator LGBT domestic abuse forum The LGBT domestic abuse forum works together for better services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) victims / survivors of domestic abuse.

4 4 LGBT domestic abuse forum 1. The experience of abuse Have you experienced any of the following? Emotional abuse 98 Coercive & controlling behaviour 9 Physical abuse Psychological abuse Sexual abuse 5 Financial abuse 47 Identity abuse 2 Base: 14. Respondents could choose more than one answer. Nine people said they were unsure about the abuse they had experienced. Three respondents had faced forced marriage, FGM or honour based violence.

5 ROAR: survey results 5 How many types of abuse have you experienced? More than six types of abuse 27 Five types of abuse 29 Four types of abuse 19 Three types of abuse 22 Two types of abuse One type of abuse Base: 14.

6 6 LGBT domestic abuse forum Who was abusive to you? An ex-partner 60 Partner 46 Close family member 40 Extended family member A casual sex partner Other Base: 117. Respondents could choose more than one answer. Other included: a close friend, a friend s father, a family friend, members of the public, manager at work, a rapist, a school colleague.

7 ROAR: survey results 7 How many incidents of abuse did you experience before you looked for help? More than twenty 48 Between eleven and twenty Between six and ten Between two and five 12 One 6 I never got help Base: 99

8 8 LGBT domestic abuse forum Did the severity of the abuse increase or decrease over time? The severity of abuse increased over time 65 The severity of abuse stayed the same 1 The severity of abuse decreased over time 4 Base: 101 Are you still at risk? No. I am no longer at risk 9 Not sure Yes. I am already getting help I d prefer not to say Yes. Can I get help? Base: 129

9 ROAR: survey results 9 Whilst waiting for help, did anything change that increased the risk to your personal safety? My physical or mental health declined/ I missed diagnosis/treatment/early recovery 65 I lost contact with my support networks or family 42 I was forced to take part in sexual activity I got into debt/became bankrupt/took out bad loan I lost my home/was forced to leave home /became captive in my home I left my college/university/training course/ work placement/job I was outed in terms of sexuality to family/ friends/work colleagues/communities I was outed in terms of gender identity to family/friends/work colleagues/communities Something else 9 My children s education/ health and well being and sense of security declined I was coerced into illegal activity/fraud/ drug related activity I miscarried a pregnancy/the relationship with my children declined Base: 94. Respondents could choose more than one answer.

10 10 LGBT domestic abuse forum 2. Seeking help: personally If you tried to speak to friends, family members or someone in your social network, who did you turn to? Friend 69 Family member 27 Virtual friend via social network Someone else Partner Ex-partner Base: 92 Respondents could choose more than one answer.

11 ROAR: survey results 11 What help or support did they provide? Someone to talk to 70 Advice 47 Somewhere to stay 29 Found me an organisation to help me Something else 9 12 Financial support 6 Base: 92. Respondents could choose more than one answer. What effect did their help have on your situation? It made the situation better 52 It made no difference to the situation 2 It made the situation worse 4 Base: 90. Two respondents answered something else: one said the question was not applicable, while the other said no help was given.

12 12 LGBT domestic abuse forum. Seeking help: services Did you try to find advice, support, accommodation, protection through the civil or criminal courts, or help in some other way? Yes 8 No 81 Base: 119

13 ROAR: survey results 1 If you answered no, can you tell us why? I kept hoping things would get better 44 I didn t think I would be taken seriously I was worried about the consequences I didn t think the incident was serious enough I didn t know where to get help I couldn t think clearly 29 I wanted to sort it out myself 26 I didn t have anywhere else to go I didn t want my family or partners to get into trouble I didn t want him/her/them to make counter allegations I didn t want to deal with strangers I didn t want to tell heterosexual or cisgender people about my family or relationships I didn t want to lose contact with my family/ children /community I didn t want to tell LGBT* people about my relationships or family I wasn t allowed to ask for help I don t know 5 5 Base: 75. Respondents could choose more than one answer.

14 14 LGBT domestic abuse forum If you answered yes, which type of services did you contact? Police (e.g. called 999, spoke to LGBT liaison officer, etc) 1 Health service (e.g. doctor, A&E, etc) 9 Domestic or sexual violence services (e.g. refuge, rape crisis, etc) A specialist LGBT voluntary organisation Housing services (e.g. housing officer, private landlord, etc) Online services (e.g. blog, chat forum, etc) Youth /education services (e.g. teacher, student union, etc) 4 5 Social services (e.g. child social services, vulnerable adults, etc) Smaller voluntary organisation Justice services (e.g. solicitor, civil court, etc) Base: 24 2

15 ROAR: survey results How many organisations or services in total did you try to contact? 6-10 services / organisations services / organisations 18 1service / organisation Base: 2

16 16 LGBT domestic abuse forum 4. The service experience Organisation / service Hostel / temporary housing service Religion / belief group LGBT DV service What help did you ask for? Accommodation Emotional support Practical support Someone to talk to Advice Emotional support Someone to talk to Practical support Accommodation Did you get it? Yes - in part Still waiting (1- months) Yes - in part Why not? Hostel is closing down Didn t get back to me Was it helpful for your safety? Was it helpful for your wellbeing and health? Not helpful Very unhelpful Very helpful Very unhelpful Very unhelpful Very helpful Was the service supportive / professional? No No Were they DV-aware? No No Were they LGBT-aware? No / sexuality No / gender identity What did they do well? They gave me a place to stay which I was good because I could get away from him Nothing They reassured me that I could escape

17 ROAR: survey results 17 Organisation / service Women s service Mental health service Local authority service What help did you ask for? Advice Emotional support Someone to talk to Advice Emotional support Someone to talk to Advice Safety planning Emotional support Someone to talk to Practical support Financial / legal Did you get it? In part In part In part Why not? Just there to listen No services for men Was it helpful for your safety? Was it helpful for your wellbeing and health Was the service supportive / professional? Were they DV-aware? Helped a little bit Not helpful Very unhelpful Very helpful Helped a little bit Very unhelpful Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Were they LGBT-aware? Not sure: I was too scared to discuss it Yes / sexuality & gender identity No / sexuality What did they do well? Counselling really helped me re-think the issues and gain more confidence and begin to get over past trauma. They listened Nothing

18 18 LGBT domestic abuse forum Organisation / service LGBT DV service LGBT organisation Mens service What help did you ask for? Advice Emotional support Someone to talk to Practical support Legal protection Advice Safety planning Someone to talk to Advice Safety planning Emotional support Someone to talk to Practical support Financial / legal Did you get it? Yes Yes In part Why not? Was it helpful for your safety? Was it helpful for your wellbeing and health Was the service supportive / professional? Were they DV-aware? They could help but there was a long waiting list Very helpful Helped a little No change Very helpful No change No change Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Were they LGBT-aware? Yes / gender Yes / sexuality & gender identity No / sexuality What did they do well? Absolutely everything < Listened. Gave me options to consider

19 ROAR: survey results 19 Organisation / service National domestic violence service Mental health service Social services What help did you ask for? Advice Advice Emotional support Practical support Home care Did you get it? In part In part Still waiting Why not? The advice offered was to call the police, but he was released quickly and no further action was taken. They said what I wanted was not available I don t know, they didn t get back to me Was it helpful for your safety? Was it helpful for your wellbeing and health Was the service supportive / professional? Were they DV-aware? Not helpful Helped a little bit Very unhelpful Not helpful Helped a little bit Very unhelpful Yes In part No Yes In part No: kept on ignoring me Were they LGBT-aware? Didn t mention it No / sexuality I didn t come out to them. they were already hostile enough What did they do well? Answered the phone quickly.. Supported me through the bad until I was well Nothing

20 20 LGBT domestic abuse forum Organisation / service The police Support service LGBT organisation What help did you ask for? Legal protection Justice Advice Emotional support Someone to talk to Practical support Advice Safety planning Emotional support Practical support Accommodation Did you get it? Still waiting Yes Yes Why not? Was it helpful for your safety? Was it helpful for your wellbeing and health Was the service supportive / professional? Were they DV-aware? Were they LGBT-aware? They didn t give a reason Very unhelpful Very helpful Very helpful Very unhelpful Very helpful Very helpful No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No / gender Yes / sexuality Yes / gender What did they do well? Lie to me, pass the buck and go out of their way to do nothing. They believed me. They didn t try to play down what happened. She was the first person to use my female gender. And they housed me. Further extracts will be included in the final report

21 ROAR: survey results Who responded Gender Age Female Male Trans (other) Trans F-M Trans M-F Not sure 26 Base: Gender same as assigned at birth? Yes No Not sure Prefer not to say plus 1 Base: 109 Base:

22 22 LGBT domestic abuse forum Ethnicity White - British 81 White - European White - other Asian - India Other - mixed ethnicity Prefer not to say Black - Africa Black - British White - Irish Sexuality Lesbian Base: 109 Gay 28 Queer Bisexual Heterosexual Other Unsure 4 8 Prefer not to say 1 Base: 108

23 ROAR: survey results 2

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