About Intimate Partner Violence in LGBTQ+ Populations

Often assumptions about gender and sexual identity lead to the expectation that all people are heterosexual (i.e., “straight”) and identify with the gender assigned to them at birth (also known as “cisgender”; see key terms). LGBTQ+ is an acronym that includes identities and experiences of people including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and various other gender and sexual identities. This acronym and other important terms are explained further in this module’s key terms section. 

As discussed in Module 1, it is commonly assumed that IPV occurs in heterosexual, cisgender couples, and that the woman in these relationships is usually the victim. This means that most often IPV supports and services are tailored for cisgender, heterosexual women. 

While LGBTQ+ and similar acronyms are often used as a “catch-all”, it is important to note that LGBTQ+ populations are not homogeneous. This module will attempt to describe different and shared LGBTQ+ experiences and possible barriers to help us be more inclusive in addressing IPV.