This session will share tips on how to reach various underserved victim populations successfully, provide information to more comprehensively understand cultural issues and barriers, and to help these victim populations apply for and receive victim services and benefits.

1. Domestic Violence/ Intimate Partner
Violence and the LGBTQ
Community:
Best Practices for Serving Survivors
of DV/IPV in the LGBTQ Community
Presented by:
Mieko Failey, Esq., Staff Attorney and Manager of
DVLAP
This project was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Legal Assistance for Victims Grant No. 2011-WL-AX-0052. The content of this document reflects the
views of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and does not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

3. Los Angeles LGBT Center

4. Group Share
What are some of the factors that
make up your cultural identity?

6. Terms Associated with
LGBTQ Identities and
LGBTQ Communities

7. • LGBTIQQAH
• Language and words that communities use to define
themselves vary temporally, geographically, and
culturally
• Because many oppressed communities have had their
right to self-identify taken away, using respectful
language is the first important step in becoming an ally
A Note on Language

9. What’s most important?
1. LGBTQ individuals are incredibly
diverse.
2. Respect how people self-identify,
however that may be.

10. The Impact of
Oppression and Stigma
on LGBTQ Individuals

11. Group Share!
What are some of the barriers you think
LGBTQ Survivors of Intimate Partner
Violence face ?

12. Homophobia is the irrational fear of feelings of love for
and/or sexual attraction between members of the same
sex
Biphobia is the irrational fear of feelings of love for and/or
sexual attraction to both sexes
Transphobia is the irrational fear of people who
transgress social expectations of gender conformity
Homo-, bi-, transphobia

13. Removing the
Heteronormative and
Ciscentric Lens
Heterosexism is a belief that male/female sexuality is the
only natural or moral mode of sexual behavior.
Heterocentrism: An assumption (often subconscious) that
everyone is heterosexual and the attitudes associated with
this assumption. Heterocentrism often shows up in less
intentional ways in every day life.
Ciscentrism: An assumption that everyone is cisgender.

14. Unique Issues & Challenges
that LGBTQ Victim/Survivors
May Face
• Fear of continued
victimization
• Fear of being outed
• Treated together in couples
therapy
• Not considered to be
acceptable family or
partnership
• Hospitals and Doctors
• Lack of visibility
• Intersection of HIV and
DV/IPV
• HIV Criminalization
• Myth of mutual abuse

15. DV/IPV Defined
A pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is
used by one partner to gain or maintain power and
control over another intimate partner.

16. Legal Issues and
Challenges for LGBT
Survivors of Violence

17. Discussion: Potential Legal
Issues and Challenges for LGBT
Survivors of Intimate Partner
Violence
• Protection / Restraining Orders
• Family Law and Custody Issues
• Marriage equality DOES NOT EQUAL parentage equality
• Immigration
• Employment
• Custody
• Violence in Housing

18. Recommended
Practices

19. Fostering a Welcoming
Environment
• Display LGBTQ-welcoming materials in the office and
shelter environments

20. Welcoming Environment
Clues & Cues
• Use gender neutral language on intake forms and in
speaking with clients:
• Partner rather than boyfriend, husband
• They, rather than he or she
• Person rather than man, woman
• Relationship status rather than marital status
• Parent or Guardian, rather than Mother, Father
• Intimate Partner Violence vs. Domestic Violence

21. How to Respect
Identity
• Mirror language the client uses.
• If you are not sure, ask.
• Keep the focus on care.
• Intent v. Impact

22. Assessing a Potential
Referral Agency
Take care to identify resources that are safe for the
survivor, including whether homo/bi/transphobia on the
part of the provider may re-victimize the client
Determine if a referral source is welcoming to LGBTQ
clients without violating the confidentiality of a
prospective client

23. Concluding Thoughts…
Small changes can make a Big
difference
Mistakes will happen
Services are desperately needed
and
Thank you for your commitment!

24. For more information
please contact:
Mieko Failey, Esq. at mfailey@lalgbtcenter.org
Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy Project at:
323-993-7649 or dvlap@lalgbtcenter.org
STOP Partner Abuse / DV Program (Counseling)
323-860-5806 or domesticviolence@lalgbtcenter.org