Domestic Violence

BRAVO's Domestic Violence Peer Support Group

For Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals and Transgendered People... Sometimes talking to others who have been through the same thing helps. Our support groups join survivors to work through their healing process. For additional information contact our Domestic Violence Program Coordinator at 614 294 7867.

Domestic Violence

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Domestic Violence is a pattern of behaviors that are coercive, manipulative, and isolating in a way that limits one person‘s access to safety and resources; these tactics are used to maintain power and control within a relationship.

Domestic Violence Includes:

Verbal Abuse: Criticizing, blaming, threatening, degrading or belittling.

Emotional Abuse: Making you feel embarrassed in front of others, ignoring you or withholding affection, ridiculing, isolating you from others, or making false promises.

Financial Abuse: Controlling money, withholding child support, destroying property, running up debts or destroying credit.

Sexual Abuse: Forcing unwanted sex, making constant sexual demands, coercing sex in order to prevent a fight, or refusing to respect sexual boundaries.

Physical Abuse: Pushing, choking, kicking, burning, or locking in/out of the house.

If you are experiencing violence at home:

Know that you do NOT cause abuse to happen. Only your abuser is responsible for her/his actions.

You don’t have to be isolated. Develop a support network, tell close friends or family members whom you trust, or call BRAVO.

Document and report abusive incidents. Keep a log including the date, location, and what your abuser SAID and DID. Include witnesses, medical records, police reports, and pictures of injuries. Keep all documents in a safe place where your abuser will not have access to them.

Make Safety Plans to protect yourself at home, at work, and in your car. Remember that a protection order may help, but it is not fool proof.

Get information on domestic violence resources in your area and your legal rights and options. Or contact BRAVO's Domestic Violence Program Coordinator, Gary Heath (gary@bravo-ohio.org).

For National and Local Domestic Violence and Hate Crimes statistics, go to the Anti-Violence Programs site and choose "Publications" (www.ncavp.org).

Take the Healthy Relationship Quiz

Get helpful information about what domestic violence looks like in a relationship, see whether or not you are in a healthy relationship, and get help if you determine your relationship is physically, emotionally, or psychologically abusive.

To take the QUIZ now, visit:
YWCA of Canada's Quiz on Domestic Violence

ADDRESS
YWCA Canada 422-75 Sherbourne Street
Toronto, Ontario M5A 2P9

TELEPHONE
416 962 8881

FAX
416 962 8084

EMAIL
YWCA Canada Week Without Violence

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Bravo works to eliminate violence perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identification, domestic violence, and sexual assault through prevention, education, advocacy, violence documentation, and survivor services, both within and on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities.

This project, presentation, training, and/or document is supported by a grant from the office for victims of criminal of justice program, United States Department of Justice (grant no.2005-vf-gx-k032). Points of view in this project, presentation, training and/or document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.