Coercive Control in LGBTQ2S+ Relationships Andrea Silverstone, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Coercive Control in LGBTQ2S+ Relationships Andrea Silverstone, Executive Director Carrie McManus, Director of Programs

Who Are We? Sagesse empowers individuals, organizations and communities to break the cycle of domestic violence through curating environments to heal and lead safe, healthy lives

Our Values Vulnerability Curiosity Courage Trusting in the Messiness

Our Language Victim vs. Survivor

Our Work Direct Service Capacity Building & Education Collective Impact

Rainbow Ready Service providers will be able to provide culturally relevant services and supports to LGBTQ2S+ individuals experiencing domestic violence.

Rainbow Ready Organizational Audit • Documentation Review & Editing • Physical Space Review & Recommendations Personnel Audit • Specialized Full Day Training per Agency • 7-10 Days on site w/agencies/systems • Understand unique cultures, values, beliefs that impact day to day operations • Engage w/staff, volunteers, board of directors etc.

Domestic Violence A relationship that is characterized by: • Intimacy • Dependence • Trust The purpose of the abuse is to control. Abusive behavior can take many forms.

Scope of Domestic Violence • 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence in their lifetime • 8% of victims of domestic violence are victims of intimate terrorism • 8-10% of victims of domestic violence access shelters • 1 in 7 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime • 31-50% of Trans people will experience domestic violence in their lifetime • 74% of Albertan’s say they know someone who has experienced domestic violence

LGBTQ2S+ Domestic Violence LGBTQ2S+ domestic violence has unique characteristics which lead to barriers often experienced when accessing support. Unique characteristics of LGBTQ2S+ domestic violence may include: • homo/bi/transphobia • “outing” as a form of control • underdeveloped or non-inclusive resources • gendered assumptions around abusers and/or victims.

LGBTQ2S+ DV Stats Williams Institute, 2015

Unique Characteristics Of LGBTQ2S+ DV • Heterosexism: the default assumption that someone is straight • Minority stress: the experience of being stigmatized because one's cultural values don't align with those of the dominant cultural group • Internalized homo/bi/trans negativity • A culture of fear-based silence with LGBTQ2S+ domestic violence often means those experiencing it are afraid of accessing services or even talking to their peers about their experiences.

Barriers to Help Seeking • Outing • Lack of LGBTQ2S+ Competent Services • Lack of community understanding of Domestic Violence • Isolation • Fear of making the LGBTQ2S+ communities look bad • Lack of Confidence in Police & Statutory Services

Experiences of Support • Shelters • Health Care Providers • Law Enforcement • Social Service Agencies • Fear of lack of understanding, competency, accessible support and services, • Individual Counsellors • 90% of LGBTQ individuals found counsellors to be helpful in situations of disclosing domestic violence (Turrell, 2000)

Changing the Narrative Violence Honeymoon Tension Building

Coercive Control A pattern of behavior which seeks to take away a person’s freedom and to strip away their sense of self. The person using violence creates a world in which the person experiencing abuse is constantly monitored and criticized; Their every move is checked against an unpredictable, ever-changing, unknowable ‘rule-book’.

Coercive Control • Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim. • Creates invisible chains and a sense of fear that pervades all elements of a victim’s life. It works to limit human rights by depriving individuals of their liberty and reducing their ability for action. • “the victim becomes captive in an unreal world created by the abuser, entrapped in a world of confusion, contradiction and fear.” (Evan Stark)

Coercive Control Stats • 95 out of 100 domestic abuse survivors reported experiencing coercive control. (Kelly et al, 2014) • Women are far more likely than men to be victims of abuse that involves ongoing degradation and frightening threats – two key elements of coercive control. (Myhill, 2015)

Coercive Control in LGBTQ2S+ Relationships • Coercive control is subtle and it happens over time, but it tends to eventually escalate into violent and even deadly situations. • Coercive control is more predictive of homicide than the existence of physical violence. • Improved understanding of domestic violence as coercive control by service providers may help to circumvent the opportunities for escalated experiences of violence.

Clinical Considerations • Trauma and Violence Informed Practice • Intersectional Approach • Gender Transformative • Client Centered • Contextualization • Co-Shared Understanding

Informal Supporters You DON’T have to be an expert! • Recognize • Respond • Refer (access help for yourself)

Policy Considerations

Policy Considerations

Policy Considerations

Conclusion

Questions? Andrea Silverstone: andrea@sagesse.org Carrie McManus: carrie@Sagesse.org