Major Scientific Study Examines Domestic Violence Among Gay Men

NARTH ^ | 18 February 2003 | Roy Waller

[Remedy]

The American Journal of Public Health has published a detailed study of battering victimization in the male homosexual community (December 2002, Vol. 92, No. 12). The probability-based sampling of "men who have sex with men" (MSM) focused on four geographical areas (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York) and resulted in 2,881 completed telephone interviews.

Based on these responses, this first-of-its-kind study determined that the rate of battering victimization among gay men in the target group (men over 18 who had engaged in homosexual activity since age 14, or who identified as gay, homosexual, or bisexual) is "substantially higher than among heterosexual men" and also possibly higher than the rate for heterosexual women, according to the study.

The researchers report a high rate of battering within the context of intimate homosexual partnerships, with 39% of those studied reporting at least one type of battering by a partner over the last five years.

In contrast, only about 7.7% of heterosexual men of all ages report physical or sexual partner abuse during their entire lifetimes. (Lifetime rates of abuse are generally higher than those within a five-year period.)

Figures were also compared with studies on heterosexual women who had been victims of violence within marriage or while cohabiting with men, also within five-year periods. Victimization for homosexual men (22%) was also substantially higher than for heterosexual women (11.6%).

The study, conducted by researchers with the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (University of California, San Francisco), Whitman-Walker Clinic (Washington, D.C.) and Prevention Research Center, School of Social Work (University of Washington, Seattle), examines three specific types of gay male-to-gay male assault: psychological/symbolic battering (verbal threats, ridicule in front of others, forced substance abuse, destruction of property, stalking), physical battery, and sexual battery (forced sexual activity).

Demographic information collected included each respondent's age, educational level, race/ethnicity, employment status, income, sexual self-description (gay, homosexual, bisexual, etc.), HIV status, and city of residence.

The research interviews covered the most recent five years of the respondents' lives, revealing that, within that time frame, 34% of the urban males interviewed had been victims of psychological/symbolic abuse, 22% had been physically victimized, and 5.1% had experienced sexual abuse. Overall, 39.2% reported one or other type of battering, of which 18.2% reported being victimized by more than one type of battering over the five-year period.

In terms of personal statistics concerning the victims, it was found that homosexual males age 40 or younger were much more likely to be the victim of abuse by a same-sex partner than those age 60 or over. Those with graduate and professional degrees were also less likely to be the target of such violence than men with a college degree or lower.

Men infected with the AIDS virus were more at risk for psychological and physical abuse than their HIV-negative peers. HIV-infected men were also more likely to be victimized in a sexual manner.

According to the study, none of the battering outcomes appeared associated with racial or ethnic identity, income level, self-described sexual orientation, or the city of residence.

The study states that the most significant factor in male same-sex partner violence is age: a 3.8% rate for 18-29 year olds, 3.9% among those between the ages of 30 and 39, and 2.7% in the 40-49-age bracket. Men under the age of 40 were found to be six times more likely to report abuse than those 60 or older, with subjects between 40 and 50 being four times as likely.

The conclusion arrived at by the researchers, based upon these figures, is that the rate of abuse between urban homosexual men in intimate relationships "is a very serious public health problem."

[AppyPappy]

And it is increasing:

Study finds increase in same-sex domestic violence reports SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Reports of domestic violence among gay and lesbian couples around the nation in 2000 increased 29 percent from the previous year, according to a report released Tuesday. There were 4,048 reports of domestic violence among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples nationally, up from 3,120 in 1999, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Poop-chute ping!

[AppyPappy]

Last one:

A 1970 study in San Francisco found that 9% of male heterosexuals and
24% of gays, 2% of female heterosexuals and 11% of lesbians reported
having been homosexually raped. Source: Bell, A.P., et. al., Sexual
Preference: Statical Appendix Bloomington; Indiana University Press,
1981.
Approximately one out of ten homicides in San Francisco is the result of
sadomasochistic sex among homosexuals. Source: " Coroner Battles
Sado-masochistic Injuries," Associated Press, 12, March 1981. See Also
Blade, 11 September 1981.
A 1988 study revealed that 22% of their sampling reported sexual abuse.
They note that, contrary to what one might expect from the literature, many
gay male adolescents are abused and or raped in the home, usually by an
uncle or older brother, but sometimes by the father. Most blame themselves
or are blamed by others because of their preference for male sexual partners.
Source: Martin, A.D., & Hetrick, E. A. (1988), "The stigmatization of the
Gay and Lesbian adolescent," Journal of Homosexuality, Vol. 17, pp.
163-183.
In 1990, V.E. Coleman surveyed 90 lesbian couples and found that 46%
experienced repeated acts of violence in their relationships.
There is little information on gay and lesbian domestic violence for several
reasons. First, only since 1987 have statistics regarding gay and lesbian
domestic violence been collected. The San Francisco Police Department
reported no fewer than 100 calls per month for gay and lesbian domestic
violence in 1987. The New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence
reported that 12-15% of their clients sought services there for domestic
violence. Others reported figured as high as 39%. Also this report revealed
that substance abuse has been empirically linked to committing acts of
violence and being the victim of acts of violence in lesbian relationships.
Source: Schilt, R., Lie, G., and Montagne, M., (1990), "Substance use as a
correlate of violence in intimate lesbian relationships," Journal of
Homosexuality, Vol. 19, pp.51-65.
Another 1990 study reported that 40% of the gay men were unwilling to
seek professional help for a problem in their relationship. Source: Mordcin,
M. J., & Wyers, N. L., (1990), "Lesbian and gay couples: where they turn
when help is needed," Journal of Gay and Lesbian Psychotherapy, vol. 1,
pp. 89-104.
A 1985 study of 1109 lesbians by Gwai-Yong Lie and Sabrina
Gentlewarrier reported that slightly more than half of the respondents
indicated that they had been abused by a female partner. Source:
Gwat-Yong Lie & Gentlewarrier, "Intimate violence in lesbian relationships:
Discussion of survey findings and practice implications," (1991) 15 Journal
of Social Service Research 46, The Haworth Press
One study estimates that between 15-20% of gay and lesbian couples are
affected by domestic violence and describe gay male domestic violence as
"the third most severe health problem facing gay men today", trailing behind
AIDS and substance abuse. The researchers estimated that approximately
500,000 gay men per year are battered by a violence partner. They also
argue that the incidence of gay domestic violence is probably greater that
heterosexual domestic violence because: there are two men in a gay couple,
and either could be a batterer, there is still some social norm not to hit a
woman, and there is no woman in gay relationships, there are social norms
that combat between men is always mutual combat and men should fight to
resolve differences, and there are additional stressors of gay and lesbian
relationships not present in heterosexual relationships. Source: ref., Island,
I., and P. Letellier, no. 17, supra, p. 11; Szymanski. M "Battered Husbands:
Domestic Violence in Gay relationships," Genre Magazine, Fall 1991, pp.
36-37.
Domestic violence in gay and lesbian couples is a serious problem. Until
recently the problem has been completely discounted and thus received little
attention. Many issues involved indicate that incidence of domestic violence
in gay and lesbian couples is probably at least as high as in heterosexual
couples, if not higher. Source: Richard Niolon, Ph.D., "Domestic Violence
in Gay and Lesbian Couples," www.psychpage.com., (1992).
Another study of 113 lesbians reported that 41% said they had been abused
in one or more relationships. Source: Ristock, J., "And Justice for All?...The
Social Context of Legal Responses to Abuse in Lesbian relationships,"
(1994) 7 Canadian Journal of Women and the Law 420.
In one study, 15% of lesbians engaged in torture for sexual fun
(sadomasochism) that included "piercing, cutting or whipping to the point of
bleeding" with their lovers. Source: Lemp et al, "HIV seroprevalence and
risk behavior among lesbians," American Journal of Public Health, 1995;
vol. 85: pp1549-1552.
In February 1994, Robert McEwan was arrested in Perth, Western
Australia, and charged with the willful murder of his same-sex partner of 14
years. McEwan's partner died from multiple stab wounds. McEwan
pleaded not guilty, basing his defense on the "battered wife syndrome" and
provocation. McEwan claimed that he had been "dominated and abused
physically, sexually, and emotionally" by his partner for several years. The
jury was unable to reach a verdict and in February of 1996, murder charges
were dropped in lieu of pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The case is believed to be the first in Australia to successfully rely on the
"battered wife (spouse) syndrome" in a same sex relationship. Source:
Gibson, R., "Gay killer was 'Battered Wife'", The West Australian, February
8, 1996, p. 11.
Such discrimination from the outside, along with the destructive force of
the AIDS epidemic, has tended to obscure the internal problem that plagues
the gay community: domestic violence. In fact, several recent studies
suggest that same-sex domestic violence may be occurring at a similar rate -
approximately one-third of all relationships - as heterosexual domestic
violence. A six-city survey conducted by gay activists last year turned up
1,566 reported incidents of gay domestic violence, several hundred more
than reported incidents of anti-gay harassment and violence. People are
really surprised, especially about lesbian battering. The notion among
feminists, lesbians - among women in general - is that this is a male
problem. It's part of an older lesbian-feminist paradigm which says most of
the problems in the world come from men and if we could isolate ourselves
from them, then things would be kind of idyllic. It's not true. But people in
lesbian communities don't want to talk about that publicly. It's like airing
dirty laundry. Source: Ros Davidson, " Gay-on-Gay Violence: The gay
community's dirty secret - domestic violence - is finally coming out of the
closet," Salon Magazine, February 27, 1997.

[dfwgator]

Well I guess that explains all the men with their "eyes scratched out."

[AppyPappy]

Actually, the 3% represents the adult population so you need to remove children from the numbers.