Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender
   Caucus Against Same Sex Partner Abuse

Vision Statement

The Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender/Questioning (GLBTQ) Caucus exists to represent this underserved community to the membership of the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The GLBTQ caucus will educate, raise awareness of battering in GLBTQ relationships, and promote inclusive and culturally competent services to victims/survivors.

Mission Statement

• Provide a safe environment and confidential services to all Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender persons who have experienced domestic violence, regardless of race, national origin, gender, sexual identity, religion, immigration status, age or ability.
• Advocate for GLBT persons who have experienced domestic violence and/or sexual violence.
• Promote social change with other agencies to promote policies, procedures, and programs to create a safe community for GLBT persons.
• Provide education and professional training to understand the dynamics of GLBT battering, sexual abuse and homophobia.
• Continue to seek resources to implement programs to achieve the vision.

Ten Realities about Same-Sex Partner abuse

1. NO One deserves to be abused.
2. Domestic abuse is not mutual abuse; self-defensive tactics do not constitute battering.
3. People who stay in abusive relationships do not enjoy violence. There are many valid reasons why people stay with abusive partners.
4. Domestic abuse is NOT the victim's fault, nor is it the victims responsibility to "cure" their partner of abusive behaviors. It's the batterer's responsibility to address those behaviors.
5. While drugs and alcohol may factor in to abuse, they are not the cause of the abuse. There are many addicts who don't abuse their partners, and there are many batterers who don't abuse substances.
6. Violence in GLBT relationships occurs at the same rate as in heterosexual relationships.
7. Violence in relationships almost always gets worse or more frequent as time goes on. And it occurs regardless of race, class, ethnicity, ability, education, politics, religion, sexual identity or orientation.
8. Battering is a learned behavior and is often reinforced through social messages condoning violence.
9. Abusers are not out-of-control, but are trying to get power and control over their partner.
10. Unlike heterosexuals, GLBT persons who are being abused also deal with problems stemming from homophobia-which means dealing and working within a homophobic society.