There are many similarities in the categories and sub categories in the heteronormative and the LGBTQI+ community understandings and research into Domestic and Family Violence.
Domestic Violence through a heteronormative lens is starting to really see the social constructs that underpin the perpetration and victimisation that occurs in domestic violence. What we’re not fantastic at, yet, is looking through the rainbow lens to see the highly nuanced occurrence of domestic violence that occurs in non-heteronormative relationships.
Our knowledge, understanding and acceptance of the heteronormative concept of DV is still in its infancy, so we want to make sure the rainbow community is raised parallel to the discussion.
To do that we need to appreciate that through the LGBTQI+ DV lens there is the additional external layers of heterosexism, homophobia, transphobia and biphobia (Roe et al, n.d.). This speaks to the societal attitudes that interplay the oppression of all community members (Ovenden et al, 2019).
Heteronormative discord and stereotypes of gender at a societal level underpin much of the prevalence of DV in the community (Ovenden et al, 2019) Therefore, understanding impacts of heteronormative influence to DV and approaches to care for the community is how we need to expand our lens through which we serve this group (Gray et al, 2020). The community faces multiple barriers to engaging with support services in general, which runs through into DV supports for them too (Gray et al, 2020).
Knowing this, our practice set out to show ourselves as a safe space for the rainbow community to access support in the DV space. We would like to share exactly how our practice did just that so that you too can make safe spaces for the rainbow community who are experiencing DV.

There are many similarities in the categories and sub categories in the heteronormative and the LGBTQI+ community understandings and research into Domestic and Family Violence.
Domestic Violence through a heteronormative lens is starting to really see the social constructs that underpin the perpetration and victimisation that occurs in domestic violence. What we’re not fantastic at, yet, is looking through the rainbow lens to see the highly nuanced occurrence of domestic violence that occurs in non-heteronormative relationships.
Our knowledge, understanding and acceptance of the heteronormative concept of DV is still in its infancy, so we want to make sure the rainbow community is raised parallel to the discussion.
To do that we need to appreciate that through the LGBTQI+ DV lens there is the additional external layers of heterosexism, homophobia, transphobia and biphobia (Roe et al, n.d.). This speaks to the societal attitudes that interplay the oppression of all community members (Ovenden et al, 2019).
Heteronormative discord and stereotypes of gender at a societal level underpin much of the prevalence of DV in the community (Ovenden et al, 2019) Therefore, understanding impacts of heteronormative influence to DV and approaches to care for the community is how we need to expand our lens through which we serve this group (Gray et al, 2020). The community faces multiple barriers to engaging with support services in general, which runs through into DV supports for them too (Gray et al, 2020).
Knowing this, our practice set out to show ourselves as a safe space for the rainbow community to access support in the DV space. We would like to share exactly how our practice did just that so that you too can make safe spaces for the rainbow community who are experiencing DV.