From Queensland Pride newspaper
October 1999 edition
DISMAY OVER DV REVIEW
A state government review designed to improve the delivery of domestic
violence services failed to seek the input of LGBT [Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender] groups, despite the failure of many services
to provide help for victims in violent same sex relationships.
The Department of Families, Youth and Community Care launched the Review
of Responses to Domestic Violence in May to examine ways in which the
department and the community can be more responsive to the needs of
people affected by domestic violence.
Currently, only a small number of domestic violence service providers
will help gay men or even lesbians, which is an issue of concern to
both LGBT community groups and the police, who are often called to
intervene in domestic violence incidents.
Police Liaison Officer to the LGBT Community Sergeant Marie Foelz told
Queensland Pride police can face great difficulty finding domestic
violence services which will assist people in same sex relationships.
She said the issue has been discussed at a recent training program for
liaison officers.
"One of the issues spoken about on the course was not having a Family
Protection Act which
includes same sex domestic violence. That's the number one as far as
difficulties go.
"From a police perspective, it's very difficult to know whether a DV
service in a particular area will actually see someone (in a same sex
relationship). Because the services are predominantly for women and
children, it leaves out gay males, and transgender persons as well. I
personally only know a couple of shelters that do take women from same
sex relationships," Foelz said.
However, some community groups are now advising victims of domestic
violence they could launch an anti-discrimination case if service
providers fail to assist them.
The Anti-Discrimination Commission of Queensland has confirmed a lesbian
could launch a complaint against a service established for women, if she
was turned away because she was in a same sex relationship.
Queensland Association for Gay and Lesbian Rights co-convenor Shayne
Wilde told Queensland Pride that despite the current lack of coverage
for same sex couples in the Domestic Violence Act, the Act does not
prevent them from assisting LGBTs in violent relationships.
"QAGLR contends domestic violence services and programs have no legal
impediment to the provision of equal access and coverage to LGBTs in
same sex relationships or their children.
"Yet QAGLR has raised these problems with a number of people including
the [Family Services ] minister [Anna Bligh], other members of the
government, members of the public service and domestic violence
services.
"While there are some domestic violence services which provide full
access to lesbians and bisexual women, there are also services which
provide a limited service or deny access to LGBTs altogether.
"What these services fail to realise is they have a legal obligation to
provide equal
access and coverage to LGBs due to their obligations under the
Anti-Discrimination Act," Wilde said.
She said the failure of the representatives in charge of the review to
consult with gay and lesbian groups had been disappointing, considering
the number of times QAGLR had raised the problem of discriminatory
services with departmental officers and politicians.
She said QAGLR became involved in the domestic violence review only
after a third party informed the group. Since then, the department has
welcomed QAGLR's input and extended time for a submission to be
prepared.
"Essentially, we had to invite ourselves," Wilde said, adding that a
senior departmental officer had since reassured QAGLR the department
would seek LGBT input in the future.
Minister for Families, Youth and Community Care, Anna Bligh told
Queensland Pride all organisations funded by the department had been
formally invited to participate.
"It has come to my attention that some unfunded may not have received
formal invitations. However, I have been reassured, wherever they
expressed an interest, they were included in the consultations," Bligh
said.
The Minister encouraged organisation to contact her department with any
concerns they might have.
Both Foelz and Wilde said there was little official information about
the services available to LGBTs in domestic violence situations.
"Our invisibility across the board means few LGBT victims or
perpetrators are aware that they have a range of options and rights in
dealing with domestic violence. Police and other professionals can't
help these people until the invisibility issue is addressed. We must be
visible in all policies, programs, services and literature so that we
can start to address the numerous problems and discrimination LGBTs face
seeking help, getting referrals and preventing domestic violence," Wilde
said.
Foelz said one of the only avenues for police intervening in a domestic
violence situation was to consult groups such as the Gay and Lesbian
Welfare Association.
"I encourage officers to take that bit of an extra mile and look at
other things they might be able to do rather than just saying 'same sex
DV, we don't do that' and walking away. I encourage them to
investigate more fully and see if there aren't any other options," Foelz
said.
Iain Clacher
--
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