Counselling of lesbian, gay and trans* people experiencing violence and or abuse and intersectionality

Authors

  • Constance Ohms

Abstract

Summary:The very specific vulnerability of LGBT* people is a result of their discrimination or physical, psychological or sexual abuse because of various aspect of their being. LGBT* communities provides space for shelter, dignity and self-esteem on grounds of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Nevertheless, they are discriminatory or even abusive toward other aspects of identity: For example, migrant LGBT* experience discrimination and even violence within LGBT* communities because of their ethnicity – and are discriminated or even experience violence within their migrant community because of their sexual or gender identity. Their situation can be described as being caught between two stools; this restricts their possibilities in getting help and support, if needed. If a multi-discriminated LGBT*person is additionally experiencing domestic abuse in her_his relationship s_he will be confronted with tabooization of domestic abuse within their communities: Tabooization is a result of discrimination and therefore of specific vulnerability of LGBT*. The communities are afraid that talking about domestic violence could promote or enhance prejudice and stigmatization because of sexual or gender identity. Furthermore, internalised homo- or transnegativity could promote the attitude that LGBT* deserve domestic violence because of their “deviant” sexual or gender identity. Being discriminated on various reasons of one’s being has an impact on abusive dynamics itself: an additional vulnerability may be exploited and (ab)used for establishing power and control. The very specific vulnerability of multidiscriminated lesbians, gays or trans*people might be expressed in anticipatory behaviour like increased distrust of psychotherapists. If the hidden, but main reason of demanding therapy is the experience of domestic abuse, tabooization mechanisms of LGT* communities may have an impact on the therapeutical process, as well as internalised homo- or transnegativity. Therefore, it could be that the main reason for demanding therapy might be mentioned late in the process and will be deeply influenced by tabooization and internalised homo- or transnegativity.

Key words: Vulnerability, gender identity, multidiscrimination, domestic abuse, tabooization, obstacles for accessibility

Author Biography

Constance Ohms

Constance Ohms, Dr., freiberufliche Sozialwissenschaftlerin, Gründerin und Vorstand des Bundesverbands Broken Rainbow e.V., der sich mit Gewaltprävention, -intervention und Antidiskriminierungsarbeit befasst. Thematische Schwerpunkte: Effekte von Mehrfachdiskriminierung auf die Resilienz besonders vulnerabler gesellschaftlicher Gruppen, häusliche Gewalt in gleichgeschlechtlichen und Trans*Partner_innenschaften.

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Published

2016-12-29

How to Cite

Ohms, C. (2016). Counselling of lesbian, gay and trans* people experiencing violence and or abuse and intersectionality. Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, 6(2), 152–160. Retrieved from https://psychotherapie-wissenschaft.info/article/view/258

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2016): Sexual variety - to the contact with various sexual identities in the psychotherapy

Section

Special Issue

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