- Conference
- 2010 National LGBT Conference
- Date
- 23 July 2010
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference expresses its disgust at all forms of domestic abuse and realises that all victims deserve the full support of the community and the full protection of the law.
Conference notes that according to the charity Broken Rainbow, one in four gay men will experience domestic abuse in their relationships. Domestic abuse does not just refer to acts of violence, it can also mean emotional or mental abuse.
There are various support mechanisms in place for those victims of domestic abuse who identify as women, such as safe houses and counselling, which is fully justified and the work of these organisations should be applauded. However, very few meet the needs of women in same sex relationships or trans women and there is often little or no provision available for men.
Having such sparse support in place means it is extremely difficult for gay male victims of domestic abuse to escape violent, controlling and torturous relationships. At the time of writing, there is only one national charity (Broken Rainbow) that works with male victims of domestic abuse in same sex relationships. The services offered are limited due to the lack of funding and mainly focus on London. It is clear that something has to be done to increase the availability of support available to male victims of domestic abuse.
Conference therefore urges the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Committee to work with the National Executive Council and colleagues in appropriate service groups to:
1.Raise awareness of domestic abuse situations, particularly within gay relationships;
2.Promote and encourage victims of domestic abuse to report any form of violence to the police;
3.Encourage a more robust support network for all victims of domestic abuse, and work with LGBT groups and organisations such as Broken Rainbow to develop better services for gay men.