Domestic abuse

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Our partner organisation LGBT Youth Scotland has launched a project on domestic abuse in Scotland, focused on helping service providers help people who are experiencing abuse. Their website has links to many organisations which can help.

Domestic abuse doesn't just happen to straight women - it affects gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and trasgender people. About one in four LGBT people experience domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse happens in many different ways, and it can be hard to realise what you're going through is actually abuse.

You can assess your relationship by answering the following questions.

• Do you feel nervous around your partner?
• Do you feel scared of disagreeing with them?
• Do they ever scare you with violence or threatening behaviour?
• Do they put you down when you're on your own or in front of other people?
• Do they wrongly accuse you of seeing or flirting with other people?
• Do they stop you seeing your friends and family or make it difficult or awkward to do so?
• Do they threaten to 'out' you to your family or work?
• Do they prevent you from attending LGBT or other events/venues?
• Do they control your money against your will?
• Do they check up on you or question what you do without them?
• Do they force you to engage in sexual acts that you aren't comfortable with?
• Do they tell you the abuse is your fault?
• Do they say they will kill or hurt themselves if you break up with them?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you may be experiencing domestic abuse. Feeling scared, humiliated, pressured or controlled in a relationship is a sign something is wrong. There is never an excuse for domestic abuse.

For help and advice, contact Broken Rainbow, or call the Scottish Executive's Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 027 1234.

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