The phenomenon of intimate partner violence in non-heterosexual relationships

Giuseppe Comite, Marianna Mazza, Giuseppe Marano, Emanuele Caroppo

Abstract. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the term intimate partner violence (IPV) describes “the actual, or threat of, abuse perpetrated by a person to gain control over another person with whom he or she has, or has had, an intimate relationship” or “any incident of controlling, coercive, threatening behavior, violence, or abuse among persons 16 years of age and older who are, or have been, intimate partners [...], regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The abuse may be psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and emotional.” This term encompasses many patterns of behaviors and attitudes, including physical assault, verbal assault, hyper-control (which can include stalking and financial control) threats and intimidation, damage or destruction of property and assets, and sexual assault. The WHO has estimated that 1 in 4 people involved in a heterosexual relationship and 1 in 5 non-heterosexual people experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Indeed, it appears that 1 in 2 transgender people have experienced IPV. The most disadvantaged population appears to be bisexual women; 61% of them, in fact, report an episode of IPV in their lifetime. Thus, the incidence of the phenomenon in the queer world is comparable to that of heterosexual couples while presenting peculiarities due to the role of sexual minority stressors. LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more) people may find it more difficult to report the violence they experience as well as higher levels of distrust of law enforcement and health personnel for fear of being discriminated against. The Human Rights Campaign (USA’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people) claims that the LGBTQA community, which itself already represents a minority compared to the general population, such as transgender people, could be reported as hate crimes and not recognized as IPV indirectly devaluing their extent, not adequately accommodating the victims and consequently depriving the entire community of specific help. This paper aims to assess both the sociological aspects involved in the phenomenon of IPV with a focus on nonheterosexual relationships, taking an interest in the contextual variables, critical issues and attempts made so far to curb the phenomenon as well as the psychological ones associated with the dimension of domestic violence in same-sex relationships without neglecting the search for possible risk or predisposing factors in committing this kind of crime as well as in suffering them. Finally, it conducts a review of the state of the art with respect to the proposed assessment and treatment plans for LGBTQA people who are victims of IPV that the scientific literature has so far disseminated.