Domestic abuse and LGBT people

The research project commenced in 2006 and ended with the publishing of the report in 2007, however, the implications of the research have continued to make an impact many years after the end of the project.

The Count Me In Too project sought to identify and address the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people in Brighton and Hove. Within the study, domestic abuse, including family and partner violence, was highlighted.

The aim of the project was to meet the demand for up-to-date evidence with which to inform future work, improving understanding, knowledge exchange and learning. Engaging with stakeholders enabled the production of several in-depth reports covering a wide range of topics including: Community Safety, Housing, Mental Health, General Health, Bi People,Trans People and Drugs & Alcohol.

For more information on the overarching project, visit the Count Me In Too website or the University of Brighton’s Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP) page. 

Our research sought to advance social change for LGBT people who had experienced domestic violence. We analysed experiences of domestic violence and abuse, exploring differences within the LGBT grouping, reporting of LGBT domestic violence, relationships and sex, housing, safety and fear of crime and risk factors for survivors of domestic violence and abuse. We examined the services available for LGBT survivors of domestic violence and abuse and identified the desire for specialist provision.

Through in-depth analysis, we discovered that 30 per cent of LGBT people experience abuse from a family member or someone close to them in their lifetimes. Bi and trans people are more likely to experience domestic violence and abuse than lesbians and gay men, as are those who are disabled and have poor mental health.

Survivors of domestic violence and abuse are significantly more likely to have poor relationships with their families of origin, be at risk of suicide and experience difficulties with their mental health, than LGBT people who have not experienced abuse or violence from a family member or someone close to them.

Our findings enabled us to make recommendations on strategy, policy, training, education, services, support needs, publicity and funding, research and consultation, contributing to our objective to make a difference to the lives of LGBT people who had experienced domestic violence.

Evidence from our research resulted in RISE, a charity that supports women and families affected by domestic abuse, recruiting two LGBT workers to ensure that gay men and trans people benefited from services. In addition, the Count Me In Too project has had wide-reaching impact on local and national policy and reshaped services.

Through consultation the project has identified a number of ways in which this and other LGBT research in the city can be disseminated. These include a series of exhibitions, both within Brighton & Hove and further afield, that provide easy access to key findings and further information on the project.

In the Autumn of 2009, the LGBT Research Information Desk came into being, providing individuals, communities and organisations in Brighton & Hove with an opportunity to access and use LGBT-related research.