LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Advocate is a recently created role at Staying Put. They specialise in helping anyone within the LGBT+ community who is experiencing domestic abuse.
Why does Staying Put have an LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Advocate?
“Research shows that LGBT+ people experience domestic abuse at similar rates to heterosexual cis women (women who were assigned female at birth).” Explains Duncan, LGBT+ Advocate
“Approximately 1 in 4 LGBT+ people will experience domestic abuse or sexual violence in their lifetime.
However, LGBT+ people are far less likely to seek support for this, 2.75% of people Staying Put supported in 2023/24 were not heterosexual, and we would expect 5-7% of people in the Bradford district to be LGBT+.
There are many possible reasons why LGBT+ people are not reaching out including distrust of services. Another reason is the story of domestic abuse represented as a very heterosexual one.
This role is to try and challenge this story, reach out to people that are struggling alone. Staying Put has a LGBT+ advocate to try and provide a service by, and for, the community.”
How does the LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Advocate support people?
According to Duncan:” I support people by listening to where they are at and where they want to go. This can include providing emotional support, accompanying people on journeys through the criminal or civil justice systems, and supporting with housing, education and work issues.”
The LGBT+ advocate often supports people to come up with strategies to keep safe. This may involve making plans to leave the home, looking into safety apps and setting healthy boundaries. Part of the role of the LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Advocate is to work with other organisations to raise awareness of how domestic abuse impacts the LGBT+ community and how to look out for signs of abuse.
Building connections is very important, as LGBT+ people in Bradford can be very isolated. Many people are not “out” about their sexuality or transgender identity and may not know there are other people and groups locally that can provide social support and friendship. The LGBT+ Advocate makes links with other organisations within health, social care and the voluntary sector to work together to make Bradford more inclusive and fight the oppression that LGBT+ people still face.
Mental health and substance misuse issues are more common amongst the LGBT+ community and clients often need support and encouragement to access these services.
The LGBT+ Advocate may work with relevant partner agencies. This ensures that you get the best support and means that you’re not having to tell your story over and over again. As in everything Staying Put does, we can offer advice and support but will always respect what clients want to do, and never pressure people to do anything they are not ready for.
What issues do the LGBT community face?
LGBT+ people experience domestic abuse the same way that anyone else can, but with some additional risks too.
“There are still a lot of homophobic, transphobic and bi-phobic beliefs around, both in public and within families. Ask any LGBT+ person and they will tell you an example of when they were made to feel uncomfortable about their sexuality or transgender identity when talking to a service like the police or their GP.”
LGBT+ people have various extra ways of being exploited by abusive partners or family members that can lead to additional vulnerabilities.
Threatening to “out” someone about their sexuality or gender identity to family, friends or work colleagues is a way to keep someone in a coercive relationship. Withholding access to hormones or HIV medication can be another form of controlling behaviour. Deadnaming someone or forcing them to perform in the wrong gender are other ways people are abused within family or intimate relationships.
Trans people are also more likely to be abused by people in their own family. Clients report that having someone who is part of the LGBT+ community to talk to is very valuable, as they don’t have to worry about being judged.
If someone’s referred to the LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Advocate, what happens?
“If someone is referred to me, I will make contact, usually by text or phone to arrange a phone call. If it’s possible I will try and have the first meeting in person in a café, as it feels like a good way to establish some trust and show I’m a real person. From there we will explore what we can do together. It may be someone just needs some advice and info, or it could be working together through court and housing processes.”
What’s an average day for the LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Advocate?
“On an average day I will check how my clients are doing, either by text or phone. I will try and meet my clients face to face where possible, as this seems to be important to the people I’ve worked with so far. Usually, I will bring some research to these meetings, about groups or services that might be useful. I may be doing a drop in at one of the colleges where my door is open for any student to talk, or where the college services might have someone to speak to me. I may be accompanying a client to court to try and get an order to keep their abuser away from them. I may be doing a presentation at a team meeting of a therapy provider on the forms that LGBT+ abuse takes or liaising with a sexual health clinic to promote our service. I may be going to LGBT+ friendly cafés and bars to put up posters and give my business cards, or I may be doing a stall at a conference.”
Further information
If you need support or further information on how we can help, please call 0808 2800 999.
We help everyone who needs it, so please feel reassured that you can call us, and you will be supported.
Our helpline is open from Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 4.30pm. We close for half an hour at 1pm every day for lunch.