In 2013, 76% of intimate partner violence homicide victims were gay men.

Gay men, LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities of color, LGBTQ and HIV-affected youth and young adults, bisexual survivors, and transgender communities are the groups most impacted by intimate partner violence (IPV).

A new report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), Intimate Partner Violence in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ), and HIV-Affected Communities in the United States in 2013, reveals shocking findings from a comprehensive collection of data concerning IPV within LGBTQ and HIV-affected relationships.

Three Federation members - Equality Michigan, OutFront Minnesota, and Gender Justice Nevada - are members of the Coalition and each contributed to this important report. The anti-violence programs of these groups are key parts of their organizations’ work, and data collected from these programs informed parts of this report. 

The report found several major findings:

• NCAVP documented 21 IPV homicides in 2013, the highest recorded level, equal to the 21 homicides in 2012. This is up from 19 IPV homicides in 2011 and more than three times the 6 documented homicides in 2010.
• For the third year in a row, LGBTQ and HIV-affected people of color made up the majority (50.2%) of intimate partner violence survivors. The report found that LGBTQ and HIV-affected people of color were more likely to report experiencing physical violence, discrimination, threats or intimidation, and harassment as a result of IPV.
• The majority, 36.8%, of survivors of IPV that reported to NCAVP in 2013 were between the ages of 19 and 29.
• 42.8% of total survivors identified as gay.

Bisexual, transgender, and LGBTQ and HIV-affected undocumented survivors are among the most impacted by IPV:

• Bisexual survivors were 1.6 times more likely to experience sexual violence, 2.2 times more likely to experience physical violence, and 2.6 times more likely to be injured as a result of IPV.
• Transgender survivors were 1.9 times more likely to face physical violence, 3.9 times more likely to face discrimination due to IPV, and 1.5 times more likely to experience IPV in public spaces.
• LGBTQ and HIV-affected undocumented survivors were 2.9 times more likely to experience discrimination within IPV relationships.

The report includes specific policy recommendations for policymakers and funders, such as:

• funding LGBTQ and HIV-affected specific intimate partner violence prevention initiatives;
• supporting early intervention and prevention programs for youth to prevent and reduce IPV in LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities;
• enacting compassionate, comprehensive immigration reform to reduce barriers for LGBTQ and HIV-affected immigrant survivors of IPV; and,
• ensure that the federal government collects information on sexual orientation and gender identity, whenever demographic data is requested in studies, surveys, and research, including IPV.

Intimate partner violence greatly impacts our communities. It is important that efforts are made to protect individuals from these acts of violence.

Thank you to our members who contributed to this report. You can download the report here.