Today, LGBT Youth Scotland and Scottish Women's Aid launch a short film exploring lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people's experiences of coercive control. Coercive control is domestic abuse. As the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee considers a Bill which would expand existing domestic abuse protections to these behaviours, you may hear more discussions about coercive control.
Coercive control is when a partner tries to control, humiliate, isolate and shame their partner. They try to dominate every aspect of their partners’ life and often monitor and control their victim’s behaviour, movements and social media. Perpetrators of coercive control frequently try to wear down their partners’ self-confidence and self-worth by insulting them or making them feel stupid. Those experiencing domestic abuse often feel scared, anxious, or constantly 'on guard'.
The film—Coercive Control and LGBT People—will help services, and friends, family, neighbours, or colleagues of LGBT people raise awareness of LGBT people's experiences of coercive control.
'LGBT Youth Scotland is proud to work in partnership with Scottish Women's Aid, and other members of the LGBT Domestic Abuse Project reference group, to raise awareness of LGBT people's experiences of domestic abuse. We hope this film will be used widely to prompt discussion on coercive control, and increase recognition that LGBT people experiencing domestic abuse have support options available to them' (Brandi Lee Lough Dennell, Policy & Research Manager at LGBT Youth Scotland).
Marsha Scott, of Scottish Women’s Aid said:
“We’re thrilled to be talking about coercive control with LGBT Youth Scotland. It is so important for all women who identify as LGBT to recognise coercive control and to know that their local Women’s Aid is there for them, and it includes them.
Lesbian women have always been core to the women’s aid movement and we’re clear at Scottish Women’s Aid that sexism, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia go hand in hand, and we must stand against all inequalities and injustices if we are to achieve the equal Scotland we want to live in.”
If someone you know identifies as LGBT and may be experiencing domestic abuse, there is help available:
Women's Aids services are open and accessible to all self-identifying women of all sexual orientations who are experiencing domestic abuse. www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk
FearLess is available to anyone who does not identify as a woman, including men and non-binary people. The service accepts self-referrals and can be reached at: FearLess.Scot
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline is available any time, any day on 0800 027 1234 | www.sdafmh.org.uk