Bill seeks to increase funding to combat same-sex domestic violence
With the state legislature and governor bogged down over California's budget crisis and activists focusing on restoring marriage to same-sex couples, a bill that would put a $23 fee on domestic partnerships may be the last thing on state senators' minds. But supporters of Assembly Bill 1003 say the measure is 35 years overdue and a badly needed first step toward battling same-sex domestic violence.
The LGBT Domestic Violence Services Bill, authored by Assemblymember John A. P?rez (D-Los Angeles) to supply funding for the development of LGBT-specific domestic violence intervention programs, easily passed in the Assembly in May. It cleared a Senate committee late last month. And the bill now goes to the full Senate.
"There is a shortage of adequate care for our community," P?rez said. "We must take whatever steps we can to ensure that all LGBT survivors of domestic violence have access to culturally competent services and resources."
Susan Holt, manager of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center's Partner Abuse/Domestic Violence Program, told EDGE AB 1003 would generate much needed funding for LGBT-specific shelters and other crucial services.
"There's a desperate need for it," she said. "When it come to LGBT-specific programs, we are probably at least 35 years behind the battered women's programs."
Holt added domestic violence is underreported, but research suggests it occurs in one out of every three partnerships whether the relationship is same-sex or heterosexual.
"There are unique differences between LGBT domestic violence and heterosexual domestic violence," she said. "Often a well meaning intervention can actually be damaging or dangerous. It is believed in the heterosexual community the vast majority of violence is actually perpetrated by men. In the LGBT community, there's a 50-50 breakdown. And commonly we see LGBT persons are much more apt than heteros to fight back in self defense or retaliation."
A lack of training in LGBT relationships can limit the effectiveness of mainstream domestic violence agencies from responding effectively--or even safely.
"Mainstream providers don't really know how to make good sense out of the situation," Holt said. "They can't tell who the aggressor is. Providers see it as mutual abuse or a couples management issue -- all kinds of things that it isn't."
Anecdotally, heterosexual domestic violence is said to spike after Christmas, New Year's Day and other holidays. And a bad economy traditionally translates into higher incidences. The same trends hold true for incidents of domestic violence among same-sex couples.
"In a year at the LA Center, we generally tend to see about 200 clients a month, but it depends on the month," Holt said. "We always get more after Pride. I think that's for a variety of reasons. For a lot of people, Pride is a time to really party. I certainly see in the LGBT community a co-factor between the severity of violence and crystal meth abuse. A lot of our male clients have that dual problem."
Holt said in California there are no shelters for battered LGBT individuals and only two full-fledged batterer intervention programs -- one at the LA Center and another at the San Diego LGBT Community Center.
"I think that we have always been at a place in our culture that when we are fighting for our basic civil rights, domestic violence is going to take a back seat," she said. "It always happens within the context of a thousand rights and protections that LGBT people don't have that heterosexuals do."
P?rez remains optimistic his bill will help LGBT Californians who suffer domestic violence at the hands of their partners.
"By passing this bill, we are expanding innovative and proven program models already being pioneered by LGBT centers and organizations across the state," he said. "Now more people will have greater access to the services they need - in a safe, comfortable environment."
For information about the LA Gay & Lesbian Center services, click here. For information on the San Diego LGBT Community Center program, click here. For information on programs around the country and annual reports on same-sex domestic violence, click here.