Help-seeking among lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender victims/survivors of domestic violence and abuse: The impacts of cisgendered heteronormativity and invisibility

Donovan C., Durey M.

In this chapter, we consider the impacts of public sector funding cuts within the conjoined narratives of austerity and the ‘Big Society’ on services for those experiencing domestic violence and abuse in LGB and/or T communities. We draw on qualitative interviews undertaken in an evaluation of a regional development project building capacity to respond to LGB and/or T survivors in existing mainstream and specialist DVA services. Interviewees explain how their work—especially of LGBT organisations—is increasingly governed by prioritisation with the loss of spaces for development; and point to similar trends amongst their partners and a focus on ‘generic’ rather than specialist services. Such evidence supports the biofinancialisation thesis wherein social services are assessed economically rather than for their utility in deciding their success.

Rushton P., Donovan C.

Uniquely, of the four economic recessions of the last sixty years, this ‘recovery’ is based on cutting the state, and the scope of its services. In all the others the temporary slump in tax receipts, and the rise in the proportion of GDP spent by the government were passing phases that were quickly ameliorated by the return to economic growth. Only in this recession, the first since 1929 to be created by financial institutions’ speculation, has government expenditure been the sole focus of politics. The argument this chapter takes supports an argument that this unique choice of austerity in a time of growth, taken as the economy has gradually returned to the 2008 level, is the outcome of political compulsion not economic necessity.

Barnes R., Donovan C.

Donovan C.

Whilst Spare Rib and the feminist movement had a strong narrative of campaigning on issues of violence against women, there is a less well-known side of this campaign that included women in same-sex relationships. In this chapter, Catherine Dovovan shows how domestic and Sexual violence sexual violenceViolence was presented, theorized and campaigned against within the pages of Spare Rib.

Seymour K.

This article explores representations of gender and violence in Australia’s National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children. The Plan’s neglect of violence in the context of LGB relationships is discussed as indicative of the Plan’s implicit heteronormativity and its uncritical reliance on dominant discourses of gender and violence. In its failure to engage with the diverse complexities of gender and violence, I argue that the Plan perpetuates the exclusion of certain bodies, identities and experiences, such that rights to protection and safety are reserved for some and not others.

Stephenson R., Finneran C.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) rates are disproportionately high among sexual minority populations. Few studies have examined the plausible relationship between minority stress and IPV among men who have sex with men. This study examines the associations between IPV and three indicators of minority stress: internalized homophobia, sexuality-based discrimination, and racism, in a large venue-based sample of gay and bisexual men from Atlanta, USA. Each of the minority stress measures was found to be significantly associated with increased odds of self-reporting any form of receipt of IPV. Significant associations were also identified between perpetration of IPV and minority stressors, with most types of IPV perpetration linked to internalized homophobia. This study confirms findings in a growing body of research supporting the relationship between minority stress and increased prevalence of IPV among men who have sex with men, and points to the need to address structural factors in IPV prevention programs for male–male couples.

Riggs D.W., Fraser H., Taylor N., Signal T., Donovan C.

Previous research has consistently found that transgender women experience high levels of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). Yet, to date, no studies have explored the efficacy of training workshops aimed at increasing the capacity of service providers to meet the needs of transgender women. This paper reports on findings from one such workshop developed and run in South Australia. Workshop participants (n ¼ 25) from three domestic violence services completed both pre- and post-workshop measures of attitudes towards working with transgender women, comfort in working with transgender women and confidence in providing services to transgender women. In addition, participants responded to open-ended questions regarding terminology, and awareness of referrals related to the link between DVA and animal abuse. Statistically significant changes were identified on all measures, with workshop attendees reporting more positive attitudes, greater comfort and greater confidence after completing the workshop. Analysis of open-ended responses found that attendees developed a better understanding of both appropriate terminology, and referrals for women who present to services with animal companions. We conclude with suggestions for how programmes and services may become more welcoming and inclusive of transgender women experiencing DVA.

Barnes R., Donovan C.

In this chapter, Rebecca Barnes and Catherine Donovan make the case for the development of inclusive interventions for domestically violent and abusive lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGB and/or T) perpetrators, drawing on findings from the Coral Project. The chapter begins by briefly reviewing what is known, to date, about LGB and/or T domestic violence and abuse (DVA) and what the current provision is for perpetrators of DVA in the UK, consequently highlighting the gap in provision for LGB and/or T perpetrators. Findings from the Coral Project are then presented to evidence the demand for LGB and/or T perpetrator interventions. The analysis subsequently presents practitioners’ perspectives on the needs of LGB and/or T perpetrators and opportunities for, and barriers to, developing inclusive interventions. The chapter concludes with a call for a more integrated response to LGB and/or T DVA from a wider range of practice settings.

Badenes-Ribera L., Bonilla-Campos A., Frias-Navarro D., Pons-Salvador G., Monterde-i-Bort H.

This article presents the first systematic review on intimate partner violence (IPV) in self-identified lesbians in same-sex couples. Studies published from January 1990 to December 2013 were analyzed. Of the 687 studies reviewed, 59 were preselected, of which 14 studies were selected that met the inclusion and methodological quality criteria. A summary is presented of the characteristics of the studies, the participants, the prevalence of IPV victimization and perpetration, and its correlates. All the studies were carried out in the United States and used a nonprobabilistic sampling method. The majority of participants were White with a high educational level. The results indicate that all the forms of violence occur, but the most prevalent is emotional/psychological violence. The correlates positively associated with IPV are certain personality characteristics, fusion, previous IPV experience, a family history of violence, and alcohol consumption. This review finds significant limitations in the analyzed literature. Methodological recommendations are made for future studies.

Johnson P.

Donovan C., Hester M.

Finneran C., Stephenson R.

This article presents results from a systematic review of the literature on intimate partner violence (IPV) among U.S. men who have sex with men (MSM). From 576 reviewed studies, a total of 28 met inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The population characteristics of each study, definitions of IPV, prevalences of different forms of IPV, and statistically tested correlates of IPV are summarized for each study. The results indicate that all forms of IPV occur among MSM at rates similar to or higher than those documented among women, although data on perpetration rates of IPV are scant, and consensus as to IPV correlates among MSM is absent. This review also finds significant limitations in the reviewed literature, notably the lack of a standardized, validated definition of IPV among MSM; use of unspecific recall periods for IPV; a lack of attention to nonphysical, nonsexual forms of IPV; and near-universal use of cross-sectional, convenience samples of urban MSM. Researchers should develop and validate an MSM-specific definition of IPV, use more rigorous epidemiological methods to measure IPV and its effects, and clarify the mental and physical health outcomes associated with both receipt and perpetration of IPV.

Hazleden B.

It is often argued that self-help books negate citizenship and the public sphere by promoting a hyper-responsibility in which individuals are rendered entirely responsible for their own life experiences, without reference to social relations. This article argues that discourses of responsibility in self-help literature are more complex and ambiguous, and that this is in part due to the widespread influence of codependency theory, and in part due to tensions within liberal-democratic political ideologies.

McDonald C.

Forty women who had been in abusive adult, intimate relationships with other women were interviewed. Their life experiences leading up to these abusive relationships were qualitatively examined to determine how heterosexism created a social context in which women were left vulnerable to abuse and dependent on their abusers. Childhood abuse, negative coming out experiences, lack of a queer community, and substance/alcohol abuse contributed to survivors’ vulnerability to abuse by making them socially isolated from a support system and dependent on their partners to reconstruct a sense of family.

Johnson M.P.

This article presents a feminist perspective on domestic violence that is rooted in an explication of the differences among three major types of intimate partner violence (Johnson, 2008) . Theory and research from this perspective is then reviewed to rebut recent attacks on feminist scholarship and policy regarding intimate partner violence. ► IT, VR, and SCV differ dramatically in almost all respects. ► Dutton, Hamel, and Aaronson (2010) seriously misrepresent this feminist perspective. ► Dutton et al.’s literature review distorts the implications of IPV research. ► The empirical literature in fact strongly supports a feminist perspective.

Lim G., Lusby S., Carman M., Bourne A.

LGBTQ victim-survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) encounter numerous obstacles to accessing professionalized support, including internal factors that engender reluctance to engage in professionalized services. This gap in knowledge constitutes a limiting factor to the uptake of these services, even when significant effort has been made to accommodate these individuals. Semi-structured life history interviews were conducted with ( N  = 30) LGBTQ victim-survivors aged 19–79 years with recent (<2 years) and/or ongoing IPV experiences. These factors functionally curtailed access to appropriate support, even when available. The implementation of inclusive services must be attentive to and address affective barriers encountered by LGBTQ victim-survivors

Toccalino D., Jonsa S., Yakubovich A.R., Davies A., Kosa S.D., Kelly C.E., Macdonald S., Du Mont J.

IntroductionIntimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault are pervasive public health and human rights concerns that disproportionately impact trans and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals. Experiences of cisgenderism and transphobia, compounded by racism and other forms of discrimination and structural violence, can hinder access to appropriate supports in a safe and non-stigmatising environment across a variety of sectors, including but not limited to healthcare, social services, criminal justice, and legal. TGD individuals may also have unique health and social needs requiring support that is not yet in place. Recent research has identified the need to better understand barriers to accessing support for TGD survivors of IPV and sexual assault as a top priority. This study aims to address this need for evidence to facilitate improved access to inclusive and equitable services for TGD survivors.Methods and analysisThis qualitative study will involve semi-structured interviews with approximately 60 adult TGD survivors of IPV and/or sexual assault who wanted to access, attempted to access, or used services. A diverse array of participants from across Canada will be recruited via purposeful and snowball sampling through partner organisations, Peer Leader Advisors and their networks, as well as promotion in physical and virtual spaces (eg, flyers and social media). An interview guide was developed based on Levesque’s access to care model. Virtual interviews will be thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s iterative phases of reflexive thematic analysis. An intersectionality lens will be applied throughout the research process.Ethics and disseminationResearch Ethics Board approval was obtained from Women’s College Hospital (WCH REB #: 2023-0033-E). Findings will be shared in peer-reviewed publications, at academic conferences, and through the burgeoning trans-LINK Canada Network WebPortal (https://www.translinknetwork.com/) using a variety of media, including newsletters, infographics, and webinars.

Buller A.M., Ferrari G., Bleile A., Feder G.S., Brzank P.J., Bacchus L.J.

Background Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is a violation of human rights that damages the health and well-being of—gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM). Sexual health services provide a unique opportunity to assess for DVA and provide support. This study explores the feasibility and acceptability of Healthcare Responding to Men for Safety (HERMES), a pilot intervention aimed to improve the identification and referral of gbMSM experiencing DVA in a London NHS Trust. Methods The before and after mixed method evaluation of the intervention included semi-structured interviews with 21 sexual health practitioners, 20 matched pre-post questionnaires, and an audit of 533 patient records to assess identification and referral of gbMSM experiencing DVA. Results HERMES increased practitioners’ self-reported preparedness and confidence in enquiring, identifying and responding to gbMSM experiencing DVA. HERMES increased staff awareness of DVA among these patients, which led to higher identification practices in their work. There was a significant increase in the identification and reporting practices of trained staff (0% to 30%), with 6 (5%) DVA cases identified. However, as far as we could determine, none of these patients contacted the support agency. Conclusions HERMES proved successful in raising staff awareness, provided tools that increased identification and a referral pathway to an external specialist DVA service for the LGBT community. However, the poor uptake of the referral service indicates a need for further exploration of the help-seeking behaviour of gbMSM experiencing DVA and whether they would prefer to receive support within a sexual health service. Reinforcement training and clinical supervision is needed to sustain positive changes in practice over time and address potential challenges posed by staff turnover. Initial training should be conducted through face-to-face sessions with a combination of in-person and e-learning materials and followed by in-person and online reinforcement activities.

Tennent E., Weatherall A.

AbstractThe under‐reporting of family violence is a global problem. Multiple barriers to help‐seeking have been identified, including some associated with social identities like race, age and gender. This discursive psychology study examines identity and help‐seeking in social interaction. We analysed 200 calls classified by police call‐takers as family harm using conversation analysis and membership categorization analysis. We found that callers oriented to a locally generated identity category ‘the one who called police’ as problematic. Callers sought anonymity or proposed cover stories to avoid being identified by others. Anonymity raised practical problems for recording callers' names and cover stories raised questions about the legitimacy of alternative accounts for police contact. We found callers' concerns with being identified create a dilemma produced through competing moral judgements tied to coexisting institutional and relational identity categories. Participants display understandings that calling the police may be the right thing to do as a help‐seeker, but the wrong thing to do as a friend or family member. Our findings reveal how a locally generated identity category was observable as a force shaping help‐seeking in real‐time high‐stakes encounters.

Worrell S., Bourne A.

Community-controlled organisations provide crucial services to support the health and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and other sexual and/or gender minority (LGBTIQ +) people. A strength of such organisations and their practitioners (many of whom are LGBTIQ +) is their cultural expertise, which can help to identify, understand and address the specific needs of LGBTIQ + clients, including in relation to family violence. While much discussion about standards of care for LGBTIQ + people has focused on a need for mainstream service providers and their non-LGBTIQ + practitioners to become more “culturally competent”, less has considered how clients experience services at community-controlled organisations. In this article, we draw on 19 semi-structured interviews with clients of family violence services at an LGBTIQ + community-controlled organisation in Melbourne, Australia, to explore their perceptions of specialist LGBTIQ + services. Eleven participants were cisgender men, six were cisgender women and two were trans or gender diverse. In terms of sexual orientation, ten self-described as gay, one homosexual, two queer, three lesbian, one bisexual, one asexual and one preferred not to say. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns of service experience. Our research shows that participants felt that specialist services were most effective when they were informed about, affirming of and focused on the identities and specific health needs of LGBTIQ + clients. Participants had experienced what they perceived to be effective services within the context of LGBTIQ + community-controlled organisations, though felt that “mainstream” service providers were also potentially capable of providing good-quality support. A concerted effort on the part of these providers to embed culturally competent and LGBTIQ + -friendly practices into their services would help them achieve this outcome. Specialist support was most visible in the context of LGBTIQ + community-controlled organisations but also possible in other health and wellbeing settings, which is promising for mainstream service providers and practitioners seeking to provide more inclusive care for LGBTIQ + people. The insight of clients in this research is something that can potentially contribute to further discussion about the continued work both of LGBTIQ + community-controlled organisations and mainstream services.

Burton S., Workman A.

The social network that fights domestic violence is flourishing in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. In the 1970s, women’s safety advocates were a small group of feminists operating on minimal budgets. Today, the domestic violence industry has grown on federal and state monies. Domestic violence as an industry is responsible for advocacy, policy development, government initiatives, setting standards of care, resource deployment, and interventions and assistance standards for victims and offenders. The domestic violence industry has gone “unchecked” and “unregulated” in many nation-states, with many individuals (responsible for grassroots advocacy) not being accounted for, as the cultural understandings of domestic violence have created hidden identities and rendered entire populations invisible. This chapter links critical Whiteness theory and the many forgotten identities in the representation of domestic violence in Australia. Typically, domestic violence is portrayed as a White, nondisabled, heterosexual, cisgender woman as a victim at the hands of a White, nondisabled, heterosexual, cisgender man. The representation has, to the detriment of other experiences, ensured these hidden identities remain hidden. As such, more robust and inclusive discussions on disability, First Nations people, people of color, religiously diverse people, gender and sexuality diverse people, and heterosexual men will be discussed. We close this chapter with crucial areas for consideration in managerialism or domestic violence as an industry and practical recommendations on how Whiteness in domestic violence perpetuates discrimination and misrepresentation and exacerbates the vulnerability of these forgotten identities.

Burton S., Workman A.

The social network that fights domestic violence is flourishing in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. In the 1970s, women’s safety advocates were a small group of feminists operating on minimal budgets. Today, the domestic violence industry has grown on federal and state monies. Domestic violence as an industry is responsible for advocacy, policy development, government initiatives, setting standards of care, resource deployment, and interventions and assistance standards for victims and offenders. The domestic violence industry has gone “unchecked” and “unregulated” in many nation-states, with many individuals (responsible for grassroots advocacy) not being accounted for, as the cultural understandings of domestic violence have created hidden identities and rendered entire populations invisible. This chapter links critical Whiteness theory and the many forgotten identities in the representation of domestic violence in Australia. Typically, domestic violence is portrayed as a White, nondisabled, heterosexual, cisgender woman as a victim at the hands of a White, nondisabled, heterosexual, cisgender man. The representation has, to the detriment of other experiences, ensured these hidden identities remain hidden. As such, more robust and inclusive discussions on disability, First Nations people, people of color, religiously diverse people, gender and sexuality diverse people, and heterosexual men will be discussed. We close this chapter with crucial areas for consideration in managerialism or domestic violence as an industry and practical recommendations on how Whiteness in domestic violence perpetuates discrimination and misrepresentation and exacerbates the vulnerability of these forgotten identities.

FitzGerald S., Carline A.

This article offers a discourse analysis of domestic abuse's ‘Man Problem’ by combining and developing Naffine's, Foucault's and Bacchi's work in a new way. Taking the parliamentary debates around the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 in England and Wales as our focus, we critique how MPs problematise gender to justify a gender-neutral definition of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). We illustrate how MPs reframe DVA's ‘man problem’ not as the problem of men as perpetrators of violence against women. But rather, they represent the law and policy ‘problem’ as men's invisibility as victims of DVA. We develop a new theoretical innovation to advance our critique: discursive co-option, and we uncover two gender paradoxes. We argue that MPs co-opt gender equality discourses to advance masculinist politics and patriarchal logics in ways that have detrimental effects for the less powerful, and which elide the reality of women's experiences of DVA.

Toccalino D., Haag H.(., Nalder E., Chan V., Moore A., Wickens C.M., Colantonio A.

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health crisis. Often repetitive and occurring over prolonged periods of time, IPV puts survivors at high risk of brain injury (BI). Mental health concerns are highly prevalent both among individuals who have experienced IPV and those who have experienced BI, yet the interrelatedness and complexity of these three challenges when experienced together is poorly understood. This qualitative study explored care provision for IPV survivors with BI (IPV-BI) and mental health concerns from the perspectives of both survivors and providers. Methods This qualitative interpretive description study was part of a broader research project exploring employment, mental health, and COVID-19 implications for survivors of IPV-BI. Participants (N = 24), including survivors and service providers, participated in semi-structured group and individual interviews between October 2020 and February 2021. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Findings Four themes were developed from interview findings: 1) identifying BI and mental health as contributing components to survivors’ experiences is critical to getting appropriate care; 2) supporting survivors involves a “toolbox full of strategies” and a flexible approach; 3) connecting and collaborating across sectors is key; and 4) underfunding and systemic barriers hinder access to care. Finally, we share recommendations from participants to better support IPV survivors. Conclusions Identifying both BI and mental health concerns among IPV survivors is critical to providing appropriate supports. Survivors of IPV experiencing BI and mental health concerns benefit from a flexible and collaborative approach to care; health and social care systems should be set up to support these collaborative approaches.

Gusmeroli P., Trappolin L.

D’Cruz C.R., Hammond M.D., Dixon L.

People in the LGBTQIA+ community (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other gender/sexual minorities) experience greater rates of intimate partner aggression (IPA) than the general population and have fewer help-seeking pathways available. The current research examined the extent to which LGBTQIA+ people’s perceptions of barriers to help-seeking were associated with perceptions of societal heteronormativity—the belief that being cisgender and heterosexual is the norm—and whether the source of support was formal (e.g., police, counselors) versus informal (e.g., friends, family). The current research was conducted in two parts. In the first part of the study (Study 1a), structural equation modeling indicated a significant positive association between perceived societal heteronormativity and self-focused barriers (e.g., feeling too ashamed or guilty to seek help) but not with other-focused barriers (e.g., expecting unfair treatment). Instead, LGBTQIA+ people perceived greater other-focused barriers when considering formal compared to informal sources of support. In the second part of the study (Study 1b), we interviewed 10 LGBTQIA+ people about barriers to help-seeking for IPA. A reflexive thematic analysis identified four themes: (1) Who can hold the status of being a “victim”?; (2) The heightened importance of autonomy; (3) Formal supports need LGBTQIA+ competency; and (4) Judged by the outside in. The themes illustrated unique barriers experienced by LGBTQIA+ people when judging possible harm, choosing whether to seek help, and actual help-seeking. Altogether, current help-seeking pathways for IPA are generally inaccessible to people in the LGBTQIA+ community. IPA interventions for the LGBTQIA+ community require awareness of stigma, improved education for informal and formal support pathways, and the development of community-led interventions.

Pless J., Gibbs J.J.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, IPV has long been conceptualized as abuse between a male perpetrator and a female victim, leaving gaps in the literature on the unique impacts IPV victimization has for both male victims and victims in same-sex relationships. This study examines relationships between IPV and negative minority stress experiences specific to LGBTQ individuals: overt experiences of homophobia, sexual orientation microaggressions, and internalized homophobia. Participants ( N = 168) were recruited through three popular MSM networking applications (i.e., Grindr, Jack’d, and Scruff. Most were recruited from one state in the southeastern United States. Ordinary Least Squares regressions were used to examine IPV as a predictive factor in three separate models, all of which controlled for age, race, outness, and gay community connection (GCC). IPV victimization is associated with increased levels of experiences of overt homophobia, homophobic microaggressions, and internalized homophobia for MSM. Outness, or being open with the people in one’s life about one’s MSM identity, is associated with lower levels of both sexual orientation microaggressions and internalized homophobia. GCC is also associated with lower levels of internalized homophobia. Results from this study show that IPV victimization is related to minority stressors for MSM. These findings support the existence of unique elements of IPV for LGBTQ victims, specifically MSM. Implications for IPV researchers and service providers are discussed, including the importance of the protective role of outness and GCC against some minority stressors.

Allen K.

Rape Crisis Centres (RCCs) first emerged in the 1970s, born of US grassroots feminist activism but swiftly blossoming into a global anti-rape movement. Early RCCs in England and Wales were typically run along collective, non-hierarchical lines and staffed by volunteers rather than professionals, embodying the egalitarian values and radicalism of their founders. Despite widespread professionalisation through the 1990s and beyond, training for incoming volunteers continues to form part of the ‘living dynamic’ of RCCs, embodying elements of feminist consciousness-raising and impetus towards collective action. However, the wider literature and the author’s lived experience indicate that RCC training varies considerably in content, duration and delivery between centres. Similarly, there may be a misalignment between RCC training and the needs and experiences of incoming volunteers experiencing intersecting forms of marginalisation and disadvantage, with knock-on effects for service delivery and advocacy. Reflecting on a small-scale study undertaken with nine RCC workers from two English centres, this chapter reflects on the parallels between critical systems thinking frameworks and feminist epistemic techniques, exploring how Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) could be utilised by RCC training developers in order to be more responsive to local needs and contexts.

Yousif N.B., Daoud S.M.

This research aims to establish the effectiveness of the online training course on the ability of women to resist psychological, physical, sexual, and other forms of violence against women. It enrolled 108 women aged 18 to 48 years old, who applied for help from a voluntary online relief organization in Sudan and attended online training for a year. The tools were the Rogers Empowerment Scale (ESR) and the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). There was an increase in all three ESR subscales: in Group A (psychological violence), Group B (physical violence), and Group C (sexual violence), the increase was 1.84 to 3.99, 1.74 to 3.08, and 0.48 to 2.31, respectively. In Group A and Group B, the differences were significant for all subscales; in Group C, all but Power-Powerlessness and Optimism and Control over the Future were significant. The PTGI subscales also showed an increase in Relating to Others, New Possibilities, Personal Strength, Spiritual Change, and Appreciation of Life. The findings substantiate the efficacy of an online training course within the context of psychological and physical violence, and to some extent, sexual violence. The study underscores the universality and adaptability of online education programs in addressing the intricate and multifaceted nature of violence against women, by eliminating geographical barriers and ensuring resource accessibility for women in remote areas. Significant improvements in self-esteem, personal empowerment, and overall enhancement of rights and opportunities among participants emphasize the transformative potential of educational initiatives, which aid in halting violence and restoring women’s autonomy. The practical implications are profound, as the findings can be utilized for the implementation and expansion of online education programs adaptable to diverse contexts, emphasizing the imperative of investing in digital solutions.

Alvarez-Hernandez L.R., Seelman K.L., Joyner A., Hartford R.

Using secondary data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, we explored transgender and gender-diverse Latinx individuals in the Southern U.S. experiences with transprejudice and antitrans violence at the individual, interpersonal, and structural levels. Findings include high rates of any form of antitrans violence in the past year and intimate partner violence in a lifetime. Most respondents accessed healthcare services in the past year. However, many reported transprejudice and antitrans violence accessing these services. Findings highlight the need for comprehensive changes at all levels to improve the well-being of transgender and gender-diverse Latinx Southerners experiencing gender-based violence.