Cause and Effect World

What domestic violence in gay relationships teaches us about all relationships

The Samantha Clemens Show on WMFO 91.5 FM 

Taxes, the Boston Marathon, and Patriot’s Day - all on one day.  Does anyone know why we are still celebrating Patriot’s Day?  I thought we were pals with the British these days.

Then, our topic for the day: 

Not so long ago, the concept of domestic violence didn’t exist - the rod was kept to a thumb’s width maximum and everything was right with the world.  Then the women’s movement came and we learned that domestic violence was about patriarchy - men asserting themselves over women in the home.  What it was and what to do about it was pretty much based on this paradigm.

Except, there’s this little issue of domestic violence in other flavors of relationships:gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, trans-gender.  And, then of course the wild idea that a woman could actually be the abuser, the man the abusee….  Which meant that the model of domestic violence had to be rethought.

Kate Moriarty is on the board of the Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project and joins us to tell us what the organization does about domestic violence, why it was originally started, and what their work has taught us about domestic violence in general. 

Their 24 hour crisis line is 800 832 1901 where they provide emotional support, safety planning, crisis counseling, referrals, and emergency housing. They have an Emergency Safe Home Network which was developed to give GBT men who are leaving abusive relationships a safe and supportive place to stay. http://www.gmdvp.org/

To listen to the show, click below (left-click to listen or right-click to download):

Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project - Part 1

Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project - Part 2

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