Lost, Gaslit, Belittled, Tormented: LGBT+ Experiences of Domestic and Sexual Abuse

In recent years, there has been growing acknowledgement of so-called hidden survivors of domestic and sexual violence, specifically those that fall outside of stereotypical conceptualisations of prototypical victims (i.e., cis-gendered, heterosexual women). As a result of this recognition, research on the experiences of LGBT survivors has flourished. This chapter seeks to bring together a contemporaneous understanding of the experiences of LGBT survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including on (a) the prevalence of violence in this community, (b) their experiences of violence, (c) the impact violence has upon them in relation to both mental health and physical health, and other psychological and social factors, and (d) their experiences of help-seeking (and barriers to this), including within the criminal justice system. Finally, the authors will provide key recommendations for practice and future research, so that academics, practitioners, and policymakers can better support this population.