Warning: This story contains details of an alleged violent assault. Reader discretion is advised.
Australia is working to reduce incidents of domestic and family violence, and allegations relating to an incident involving a Sydney-based man have highlighted that same-sex couples are not immune.
Banker David Cao has been arrested in France following allegations that he assaulted his partner, Callum Forbes. According to reports, Cao allegedly struck Forbes with a kitchen pan before pouring boiling water over his face, leaving him with severe burns.
The alleged assault took place at the luxurious Château de Perreux boutique hotel in Nazelles-Négron, central France, on July 28. The couple had reportedly checked into the venue for a single-night stay during a European holiday, which was expected to conclude with attendance at WorldPride in Amsterdam.
Local media reported that Cao left the scene and travelled by train across the country before being arrested near the Belgian border. He remains in custody in France on a charge of attempted murder.
Cao worked at ING as Head of Value Creation, a position he reportedly commenced only a few months ago. The bank has confirmed he is no longer employed there. Previously, he served as Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Westpac. He also held a board position with Rainbow Giving Australia, although his profile has since been removed from the organisation’s website. His LinkedIn profile additionally listed volunteer work with The Pinnacle Foundation.
Forbes is an entrepreneur whose company, And Chill, entered administration in 2019 with reported debts of $3.6 million. He now runs a Telehealth company.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Forbes shared photographs of himself in hospital, where he has been treated for severe burns and a head wound. He said he was asleep when the alleged attack occurred and that the couple had discussed ending their relationship earlier that day.
“We had a civil conversation earlier that day. I had raised the issue of separating, but I thought we were good. There was no argument, but we both agreed it wasn’t working. We had been together for three and a half years,” he said.
Now back in Sydney, Forbes is beginning a long recovery journey and may not know for several months whether he will be left with permanent scarring from the second-degree burns he sustained.
Earlier this year, the LGBTQIA+ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation highlighted concerns that campaigns addressing domestic and family violence often overlook LGBTQIA+ people. According to the Private Lives 3 Report (2020), more than 60 per cent of LGBTQIA+ people reported experiencing domestic or family violence.
Since 2020, the foundation has raised awareness of the issue through an annual awareness day held each May. While substantial research has been conducted into domestic violence in heterosexual relationships, less research has examined violence within same-sex relationships.
A recent report published in Trauma, Violence and Abuse reviewed 108 studies published between 1990 and September 2021. Across those studies, LGBTQIA+ people were found to experience high rates of sexual violence, most commonly perpetrated by men. The highest rates were reported among transgender and gender-diverse people and bisexual women.
Researchers from La Trobe University and the University of Melbourne noted that much of the existing research originates in the United States and frequently relies on university student samples. They concluded that more comprehensive research and consistent measurement standards are needed to improve comparison across studies.
Do you need support?
Support and counselling are available from:
QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.
DISCHARGED: info@discharged.asn.au / discharged.asn.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.
Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au
Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au
