A DOMESTIC abuse charity support worker said LGBT shouldn't have to find the courage to walk through their own front door.

Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service adviser Natasha Wilson is one of only six independent domestic violence specialists dedicated to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual people.

Speaking as part of a 16-day campaign highlighting the evil of domestic violence, she said: “You should not have to have courage to walk in through your front door, especially when, as an LGBTQ+ person, it took so much courage to walk out of it.”

Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service, formerly Swindon Women’s Aid, said domestic abuse does not discriminate.

There are many parallels between LGBT people’s experience of domestic abuse and that of heterosexual men and women, including the impact on the abused partner and the types of abuse such as emotional, physical aggression, sexual, threats to harm the victim or other loved ones, social isolation, control of finances, extreme jealousy and coercive behaviours, the charity said.

But there are aspects that are unique to LGBTQ+ victims. The abuser may threaten to out the victim to friends, family, religious communities and co-workers as a method of control, intentionally use the wrong gender pronouns or deny them access to medical treatment or hormones.

There is a large misconception that domestic abuse is only perpetrated by men against women, alongside that are many myths. They include the idea that sexual abuse does not happen in same-sex relationships, a woman cannot rape another woman and men cannot be raped. Lesbian women and gay men are, wrongly, sometimes believed to have equal power in a relationship, so the violence in same-sex relationships must be mutual.

LGBT victims of domestic abuse can call SWA’s 24 hour helpline on 01793 610610. Galop is the national anti-violence charity for LGBT+ people. Their 24 hour helpline is 0800 999 5428.