‘He was smashing my head repeatedly into the gravel only stopping to punch me in the chest. He then started strangling me. [When I came to he said] ‘Now look what you’ve made me do, you piece of shit’.â? KENT, 35. (from ‘Another Closet’ -  Violence in Same Sex Relationships)

If you think that domestic violence only occurs in heterosexual couples, that violence in relationships is only perpetrated by men against women, or that disputes between same sex couples are always an equal power relationship, then you are one of many in our queer community who feel that domestic violence does not happen to us.

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The Same Sex Domestic Abuse Group (SSDAG) is asking you to think again on issues of domestic violence. Even though more research is needed, the studies that have been undertaken in this area show the patterns and effects of domestic violence are similar to those that occur in heterosexual relationships.

Charles Snellesz-Mathelot is currently manager of the Diverse Sexuality and /or Gender, Family Domestic Violence Project (DSGFDV).
‘This project is the only one of its kind in the state and fills a need that has been identified by many people working in the community services,â? stated Charles.
‘After extensive research involving over 50 agencies such as police and justice services, refuges, and health workers, it was found that whilst the incidence of domestic violence (DV) in same sex relationships was alarmingly high, most service providers had little knowledge on how to respond to it.â?

The main aims of the DSGFDV project are to:
– Educate service providers on how domestic violence, homophobia and heterosexism can   ¼br>    impact on an individual with diverse gender and sexuality expression.
– Identify referral pathways and to set up a referral register.
– Develop training as needs are identified.
– Increase awareness of DV issues in the queer community.

Charles comments, ‘that the queer community has been loathe to confront any suggestion of DV within its ranks.â?
‘There are strong misconceptions amongst LGBTIQ people about what counts as domestic violence, and that many incidents of DV go un-reported.â?

The DSGFDV team are busy preparing training materials at the moment and will begin offering training to service providers such as police, youth workers, refuges, legal services, and health care workers, in metropolitan, rural and remote areas in November 2006.

For further information go to www.ssdag.org.au or call Charles Snellesz-Mathelot on 0428 958 873.