New LGBT Domestic Violence Service Launched

A new domestic violence service for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community has been launched by Birmingham Community Safety Partnership (BCSP).

The new service, the first of its kind in the Midlands, hopes to encourage members of the LGBT community to seek help, BCSP said.

The service can support anyone from Birmingham and the surrounding area who identifies as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and/or transgender, and is experiencing abuse from a partner, ex-partner, or family member.

Support from the service can include emotional support, risk assessment and safety planning, support with court processes, advocacy with other agencies and more. Most of the support is during office hours, but there may also be the opportunity for some evening support sessions.

Anna Robottom, Birmingham LGBT, commented: "Research commissioned last year found that the majority of LGBT people in the Birmingham area wanted to see the provision of a specialist domestic violence service. This has been confirmed in feedback from current service users who have commented on how helpful it has been to be able to focus on their experiences of abuse without having to worry about how their sexuality or gender identity would be responded to.

"Our LGBT specialism also allows us to work with survivors around the additional or different dynamics and risks that can occur in relation to sexuality and gender identity, such as the threat of being outed, whilst in a safe and supportive environment."

Cllr James McKay, Cabinet Member for Inclusion and Community Safety, added: "We've got to have services people feel safe using, or we'll let down victims. For those who can already face prejudice, like the LGBT community, that challenge is all the more important, and one this new service will help us meet."

(MH/CD)