3 GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HIGHLY CONCERNED 
IN FAMILY VIOLENCE CASES 

1. MEMBERS OF THE LGBTIQ+ COMMUNITY
Decision makers are encouraged to remain up to date with reliable research on specific family violence risks applicable to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, intersex and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ+) people. A good example is the research undertaken by Our Watch, and published in Primary prevention of family violence against people from LGBTIQ communities.

In addition to the well-documented types of physical, sexual, psychological, financial and other types of family violence that are relevant to all victims of family violence, the following abuse tactics have been identified as specific to LGBTIQ+ people: 

• Threats to ‘out’ or reveal the alleged victim’s sexual orientation 
• Targeting or questioning the alleged victim’s sexuality, gender or biological sex
• Questioning the alleged victim’s ‘true’ sexual orientation and coercing them to ‘prove’ their sexual orientation 
• Using heteronormative stigmas to stop disclosure of family violence 
• Threatening to disclose health related issues, such as HIV status 
• Withholding medical treatment for trans/gender diverse persons 
• Ridiculing or disrespecting gender status
• Demanding the alleged victim present as a certain gender, including treatments to look more ‘male’ or ‘female’
• Misgendering the alleged victim (for example intentionally using the wrong pronouns)
• Making threats related to custody of, or relationships with, the alleged victim’s children, based on their sexual orientation or gender identity

Members of the LGBTIQ+ community may face challenges providing evidence of the abuse including:

• There may be a lack of available corroborating evidence
• The alleged victim may have chosen not to declare or deliberately hidden their sexuality or gender identity
• Internalized homophobia and the impact it can have on an alleged victim's mental health, which can significantly impact their ability or willingness to freely express their claims.

Decision makers must be mindful of any potential biases that they may bring when assessing claims from LGBTIQ+ people. For example, it should not be assumed that a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is a lifestyle choice, or that individuals who identify as bisexual can choose to be attracted to either men or women.

2. MALES
There are no official statistics on how many men experience violence and abuse in their relationships, but according to the Department of Communities and Justice (NSW) it could be as many as one in three.

There remains a stigma around being a male victim of family violence, particularly for heterosexual male victims who have experienced family violence by a female perpetrator. Men often do not report abuse by women because they feel embarrassed or think that they will not be believed if they report it. This can result in challenges providing evidence, or a clear narrative of the abuse.

Decision makers must be mindful of any potential biases that they may bring when assessing family violence claims of male alleged victims, particularly around the view that only women and children can be victims of family violence. 

3. SEX WORKERS
Workers in the sex industry are no less vulnerable to family violence than workers in other industries, and are often more vulnerable, due to the nature of their work. Social stigma against sex workers may also make them reluctant to seek help.

Decision makers must be mindful of any potential biases that they may bring when assessing family violence claims of sex workers. Working in the sex industry should not be considered an indicator that the relationship between the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator was not genuine, or that family violence has not occurred.

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