Domestic Violence Higher in Same Sex Couples

Rates of domestic violence among same-sex couples is consistently higher than for opposite sex couples.
Domestic violence in same-sex relationships is a pattern of violence or abuse that occurs within same-sex relationships. Domestic violence is an issue that affects people of any sexuality, but there are issues that affect victims of same-sex domestic violence specifically. 
A study by the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago – involving 30,000 participants found that “rates of domestic violence among same-sex couples is consistently higher than for opposite sex couples,” says Richard Carroll, a psychologist and co-author of the report.
Intrigued by their findings, Carroll’s team started to look into the reasons why this might be.
“We found evidence that supports the minority stress model – the idea that being part of a minority creates additional stress,” he says.
“There are external stressors, like discrimination and violence against gays, and there are internal stressors, such as internalized negative attitudes about homosexuality.”
The external stresses on a same-sex relationship include what Carroll describes as the “double closet phenomenon” when victims are reluctant to report abuse because they do not want to be outed to the authorities.
But it is the internal stress, says Carroll, which can be particularly damaging.
“Sometimes homosexual individuals project their negative beliefs and feelings about themselves on to their partner,” he says.
“Conversely, we believe that victims of domestic violence in same-sex couples believe, at some level, they deserve the violence because of internalized negative beliefs about themselves.”

Sexuality as a Tool of Control 
Sexuality can be used in different ways to exert control over a partner’s behavior and access to support/friendship networks: by accusations that a survivor is not a real lesbian or gay man; by the abusive partner asserting their inability to be out; by their denigration of the scene; and by using jealousy as a way of...