Myths and Facts

Fact, Fiction and Stats of Lesbian Battering

Myths of Domestic Violence for Lesbians

· Lesbian relationships can’t have domestic violence, because they are both women.

· Only the “butch” partner can be abusive.

· It must be “mutual abusive” or “fighting” if both partners are of the same sex.

· A physically smaller partner cannot abuse a larger partner.

· S/M is abuse and domestic violence.

· Drugs or alcohol are to blame for the violence if she only attacks when under the influence.

· There is no place for lesbian victims of domestic violence to get help.

· It’s not violence because she only threatens and puts me down. She has never hit me.

Facts About Domestic Violence

· Domestic Violence occurs when one person is clearly the victim. Mutual fighting is not domestic violence.

· Even though the perpetrator may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol when violence occurs, drugs and alcohol do not “cause” the domestic violence

· 1 in 3 women will be assaulted by an intimate partner in her lifetime (30-50% of all women)

· 30% of LGBT couples experience domestic violence

· 3 out of 4 women murdered are killed by their partners

· Acts of domestic violence occur every 15 to 18 seconds in the United States

· 30% of all hospital emergency room admissions are female victims of domestic violence

· Six million American women are beaten each year. Four thousand of them are killed.

· 11 women die every day as a result of domestic violence