You have the right to safety and support – and you deserve a healthy relationship. 

The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey finds LGBTQIA+ people experience intimate partner violence at rates similar to, or higher than, heterosexual and cisgender people.  

Isolation is a common tactic of abusers to gain power and control in a relationship. Breaking free from this isolation can be so difficult, especially if family and friends you trusted chose to become estranged when you came out. Other tactics of power and control often include the following:

• Outing your sexual orientation or gender identity to family and employers. 
• Portraying the violence as mutual, consensual, or normal. 
• Denying your gender identity and/or expression. 
• Hiding or throwing away medications and hormones. 
• Ridiculing style and fashion that corresponds to your gender expression. 

These threats and manipulations are compounded by a lack of community resources that understand and affirm LGBTQIA+ identities. Fear of further oppression due to intersecting identities make it harder to reach out for support.

Many on our staff are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and everyone at our organization believes you deserve to feel safe in your intimate relationship.

Have you wondered if your relationship is healthy? Do you have a friend you suspect could be suffering from physical or emotional abuse? Whether you just want to talk or you’re ready to initiate services, we will answer your call 24 hours a day, every day of the year – 800-544-2022.