LGBT+ Domestic Abuse History Project

Why an LGBT+ Domestic Abuse History Project?

Domestic abuse is a significant concern which affects LGBT+ people. Recognition has grown over the past 20 years, with milestones such as the 2004 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act including same-sex couples, and the founding of Broken Rainbow, the UK’s first LGBT+ domestic abuse charity.

Despite progress, challenges remain. LGBT+ domestic abuse is often less visible than it should be. Specialist LGBT+ domestic abuse services are small, underfunded, and unevenly distributed across the country. LGBT+ individuals may not recognise abuse, know where to seek help, or feel confident doing so. Even when an LGBT+ person does seek help, there may not be an LGBT+ specialist domestic abuse services they can access, meaning they often have to rely on mainstream services that may lack appropriate expertise.

In addition, the history of the movement to respond to LGBT+ domestic abuse – which includes efforts by LGBT+ people and communities to organise and develop services – is little known. Without knowing our history, this also limits the extent to which LGBT+ domestic abuse is:

On the political agenda
In the public story of domestic abuse
Recognised by mainstream domestic abuse services and even LGBT+ community services

What are the project aims?

We have three aims:

Explore and celebrate the history of the LGBT+ domestic abuse movement (including highlighting key milestones)
Raise awareness about the responses to LGBT+ domestic abuse in the present
Develop a vision for the next 20 years. This included thinking about , activism, services, and research. from the past to the present, while looking toward the future.

The History of Responses to LGBT+ Domestic Abuse

Project Team and Funders

The LGBT+ Domestic Abuse History Project was funded through Durham University’s EDI fund.

The team included: