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Domestic Violence & the GLBT Community: Articles

Legal Options for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Intimate Partner Violence Survivors in New York :
In New York, many different types of civil (non-criminal) or criminal legal relief may be available to help you. However, because New York law doesn’t consistently recognize all GLBT relationships, certain legal protections may be challenging to obtain here. Read More

Marriage Equality: A Historic Victory for LGBT Families in New York :
On June 24, 2011, New York became the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Governor Cuomo immediately signed this historic legislation into law just shy of midnight making the new law effective on Sunday July 24. Read More

Dickerson v. Thompson :
Beginning in 2000, Vermont became the first state in the country to offer civil unions. Like many other states, Vermont imposed no residency requirement on celebrants. As a result, many non-Vermonters traveled there to gain access to what was, at the time, the most significant, state-sanctioned legal relationship status granting comprehensive rights and benefits to gay and lesbian couples. Read More

Dickerson v. Thompson :
A woman became a victim of domestic violence after entering into a civil union in Vermont. She came to us when she was told that in order to dissolve her civil union she would have to move to Vermont and became a resident of the state for one year. Read More

Decision from the 3rd Dept. in Dickerson v. Thompson :
Announcement of decision from the 3rd Dept in Dickerson v. Thompson ruling that NY-resident LGBT DV victims in civil unions with their batterer who had nowhere to go for dissolution may now have some available relief Read More

Immigration Remedies for GBLT DV Victims :
Since immigration law is federal law, and federal law does not recognize same-sex marriage, the gay and lesbian community is automatically left out of the protections afforded by the VAWA Self-Petitioning process via form I-360 and the Battered Spouse Waiver via form I-751. This article will discuss some of the immigration remedies that are available to DV victims who are part of the GLBT community. These remedies can help the GLBT DV victim gain legal status in the U.S. Read More

Selected Resources Addressing Domestic Violence in New York’s GLBT Community :
State and National Domestic Violence Hotlines and other domestic violence resources listed by counties. Read More

New Funding Allows Legal Focus on Domestic Violence in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Communities :
Despite a dearth of research, studies seem to indicate that a large percentage of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community experiences intimate partner violence at some point in their lives. As with heterosexual domestic violence, GLBT survivors experience the same patterns of power and control tactics such as coercion, manipulation, emotional abuse, physical violence, threats, isolation, sexual abuse, and economic control. Read More

New Funding Allows Legal Focus on Domestic Violence in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Communities :
Many social service, criminal justice, legal and medical personnel are often deficient in their ability to serve GLBT people who are the victims of intimate partner abuse. Most mainstream domestic violence or victim services programs have limited or no training or specialized services to provide for the unique needs of GLBT survivors of domestic violence. Read More