Domestic Abuse Attitudes
posted: 15/11/2010
Domestic abuse harms many people as well as wider society. People living with HIV are affected by domestic violence as much as any other people in society. The Greater Manchester domestic abuse organisation, Independent Choices, wants people’s views about domestic abuse problems and what services are needed.
The survey asks just nine questions and takes just 5 minutes. Join the survey here.
Please share the survey
Please circulate this to people you know in Greater Manchester, because they want as many people answering the survey as possible.
Findings
The survey results will be published and help develop and support high quality domestic violence support services for Greater Manchester region into 2011.
Copies of the finished report will be available by searching their website in January 2011.
Questions?
Questions about the survey to the research student, with the email heading ‘Research’
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Have Your Say About HIV Abuse, Threats, Bullying Harassment
posted: 06/07/2010
Have you faced HIV abuse, bullying, graffiti, threats, or violence? If anything like this has happened to you in the last 5 years, we want to know about it. An official Inquiry is underway because public bodies are not doing their legal duty to prevent and end HIV and disability harassment.
Public duty to prevent and end harassment
Public bodies like councils, the health service, public transport and others all have a legal duty to prevent and eliminate disability harassment.
Time to tell your stories of HIV hate and bullying
You can tell your story of what happened anonymously, or give your name.
Whatever happened, no matter how big or small, and whether you told anyone, whether you complained or not, is all valuable evidence.
Partners, relatives, friends, organisations can all help too with their own evidence.
How to help
The deadline for your comments is Friday 10th September 2010.
You can respond through any of the following methods:
Disability Harassment Inquiry
Equality and Human Rights Commission
FREEPOST RRLL-GHUX-CTRX
Arndale House, Arndale Centre
Manchester, M4 3AQ
Organisations and Public Bodies have a different questionnaire - an interactive pdf and Word versions of the Call for Evidence are available here
The Inquiry also welcomes information and ideas about what helps
- How public bodies and public transport deal with HIV / disability harassment
- What helps prevent and eliminate HIV / disability harassment
- How to deal with the causes of HIV / disability harassment, including prejudice and blame
- Ways of involving people with HIV in ending HIV / disability harassment and its causes
- How people with HIV can be encouraged to report HIV / disability harassment
- How age, gender, gender identity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation affect HIV / disability harassment.
Equality And Human Rights Commission Disability Harassment Inquiry call for evidence
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Ending Domestic Violence
posted: 27/11/2008
Around 1 in 4 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. One in four women experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and domestic violence impacts on every type of people and relationship, including children and heterosexual men.
Tuesday 25 of November marks White Ribbon Day - the global campaign to ensure men take more responsibility for reducing the level of violence against women.
Gay community and domestic violence
Around 1 in 4 lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. This statistic is very similar to that experienced by people in heterosexual relationships, yet most people think in terms of domestic violence experienced by heterosexual women. They forget that LGBT people live in the same world and experience similar domestic abuse.
HIV and domestic violence
Among people living with HIV, there are no formal studies but anecdotally we know that people tell us about being assaulted and abused in the home and sometimes of feeling like wanting to. The stress and anxiety and poorer mental health experienced by many people living with HIV can contribute to people losing self control. Having HIV can make people highly vulnerable to attack and abuse in the home.
Many communities, including the LGBT community, put their head in the sand about domestic abuse. However academic research over the last few years, including Stonewall's 'Prescription for Change', has consistently shown that abuse happens and that men and women are suffering on a daily basis from their partners, ex partners or members of their families.
Over the next few month’s Broken Rainbow (National Helpline for LGBT people suffering domestic abuse) and the Lesbian & Gay Foundation (LGF) will be highlighting the issue of same sex domestic abuse, culminating in targeted campaigns to coincide with LGBT History month and Valentine’s Day in February.
Melvin Hartley Chief Executive of Broken Rainbow says:
“Since its launch almost 5 years ago, Broken Rainbow has worked hard to change the situation for LGBT people experiencing domestic violence. We offer the only national helpline which provides confidential support to all members of the LGBT community, their families, friends and agencies supporting them. It is run by trained LGBT people who have an understanding of sexual identity issues along with the impact domestic violence can have.”
Andrew Gilliver LGF’s Communications Manager adds:
“If you think you are in an abusive relationship or know someone who is, there are many ways in which you can find help. No one has the right to hurt or harm, and everyone gay, lesbian or otherwise, deserves the right to live their lives freely and with dignity. Whatever you do, whether it is to phone a national helpline, seek out local support, tell a friend or go to the police, reach out for help, there is help there for you.”
Broken Rainbow's helpline: 08452 60 44 60 (Mondays 2-8pm, Wed's 10am -1pm, Thursdays 2-8pm)
Broken Rainbow
White Ribbon
LGF
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