NCJ Number
197496
Date Published
December 2001
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This document provides information on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) domestic violence in California during the year 2000.
Abstract
In California in 2000, attention was drawn to LGBT domestic violence through a community-wide educational campaign, enhanced client screening, an in-depth study, and a comprehensive service provider needs assessment. As a result, reported incidents jumped dramatically. Advocates and policy makers now have data to help inform domestic violence services for youth and inform planning to reduce service gaps affecting the highly diverse LGBT community. It is important to recognize that the increases still represent only a small fraction of the cases of LGBT domestic abuse. Only five agencies in California specifically address the problem of LGBT battering. There are only about 20 agencies that address the problem in the other 49 States. LGBT domestic violence victims face enormous barriers in getting help from law enforcement, the medical system, and from traditional battered women’s services and related social service providers. The additional burdens of homophobia and heterosexism make seeking help more difficult, leaving victims isolated and more vulnerable to their partner’s violence. In 2000, reported incidents of LGBT battering totaled 2,837 incidents in California -- an increase of 740 incidents over 1999. All of the additional incidents were tallied in Los Angeles (LA), which had a 58 percent increase in incidents with 2,146 incidents reported. San Francisco saw a slight drop in incidents, down to 691 from 741 in 1999. California’s total number of reported incidents accounted for 70 percent of the national total. The LA Gay & Lesbian Center is a powerful, non-profit force for gay and lesbian rights and home to a wide array of free or low cost legal, employment, educational, cultural, and social programs for the LGBT community. The Center’s STOP Partner Abuse/Domestic Violence Program is the most comprehensive LGBT-specific domestic violence program in the Nation. 9 footnotes