Legal Assistance and Education for LGBT Victims of Domestic Violence

Enterprise Fund Legal Assistance and Education for LGBT Victims of Domestic Violence

Legal Services for LGBT Victims of Domestic Violence

Targeted legal services for LGBT victims of domestic violence are necessary to serve the population of victims. In most jurisdictions, LGBT survivors are eligible for civil and criminal protections from domestic violence, such as civil protection orders. In order to access these protections, legal services providers need comprehensive targeted resources for LGBT domestic violence survivors.

About Us

We are a coalition of ABA partner entities working collaboratively to develop educational resources and training materials for attorneys providing legal services to LGBT victims of domestic violence. Our efforts include public education and building awareness about the need for specialized services; trainings and support to attorneys who provide legal services to LGBT victims of domestic violence; and written materials for lawyers and the public.

Calendar

Lavender Law Presentation:
Assistance for LGBT Victims of Domestic Violence
September 4-6, 2008
Hyatt Regency Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA

National Training Institute on Legal Assistance
for LGBT Victims of Domestic Violence
November 6, 2008
Washington, DC

About the Enterprise Fund

The ABA Enterprise Fund (the “Fund”) provides internal grants to of seed money to fund innovative, collaborative efforts between ABA entities. In October 2006, the ABA Board of Governors established the Fund to provide collaborative grants to ABA entities for entrepreneurial projects that (1) advance the strategies identified in the ABA Strategic Plan; and (2) promote greater collaboration among the many entities that make up the ABA. Grant recipients are encouraged, but not required, to incorporate into their plans activities that create new products and services for members and increase the national and global effects of the ABA.

The Board created a committee (the “Fund Committee”) appointed by the President to administer the Fund and approved the allocation of funds. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis with any amounts not awarded in the current fiscal year returned to general revenue.

Grants are awarded only for new projects and activities. Support from the Fund will not adversely affect funding for ongoing projects and activities.

The National Leadership and Training for Civil Legal Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking Project was funded in fiscal year 2007 for 12 months in the amount of $100,000 by the ABA Enterprise Fund.

Domestic Violence in LGBT Relationships

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior in which one intimate partner uses physical violence, coercion, threats, intimidation, isolation and emotional, sexual or economic abuse to control the other partner in the relationship. Studies indicate that the rates of domestic violence in LGBT relationships are the same of those in heterosexual relationships. Studies indicate that anywhere from 20% to 35%¹ to as many as 46%² of men and women in gay and lesbian relationships have reported abuse by a current or former partner.

¹ Lundy, S., “Abuse That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Assisting Victims of Lesbian and Gay Domestic Violence in Massachusetts,” 28 New England Law Review 273 (Winter 1993).

² Elliot, P. Shattering Illusions: Same-Sex Domestic Violence, in C.M. Renzetti & C.H. Miley (eds.), Violence in Gay and Lesbian Domestic Partnerships (pp. 1-8), Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press (1996).

Resources for Attorneys and the Public

Click here for links to useful websites.

Click here to visit our resources page.

ABA Partner Entities

Contact

If you have training materials or resources which you would like posted on this website, or if you have a request for training in your area, please email our staff.