We had a great DVD sent to us by the wonderful Barry Lewis the other week: an amazing lesbian domestic violence DVD. The guys shot it on a very small budget – mainly because everyone donated their time and experience for free! It’s very good quality with a great main actress who is very watchable, and a script that allows you to feel the emotions.

Champagne, Christmas and LOL video. 8mins.

Synopsis:
On defying her controlling and manipulative partner by staying over and not returning from her company’s Christmas part, Lauren, a beautiful thirty year old woman, returns home the following morning to be met by her very anxious lover.

Lauren then recalls the mental abuse and domestic violence that her partner has caused her but anger grows and the consequences for this confrontation must now be faced.

A jealous reaction from one will lead to tragedy for the other.

Written by Barry Lewis. Directed by Charlie Francis. Produced by Neil Meffan.
Available on our youtube channel

31% said yes to experiencing domestic violence.

Win an iPod shuffle… AND help us out?

Is it possible, you ask yourselves? Yes, it is!

Our online youth survey has just over a week to go so all hands on deck; if you are aged 18-25 and have not taken it then please spare 5 minutes to meander over to our survey page:

Youth Survey

Not aged 18-25? Okay, all is not lost. You can help, too: publicise it via Twitter, LJ, blog about it, include it in your newsletter if you run an organisation/charity, etc, send an e-mail to your friends…. The methods are numerous and I expect you can come up with more ingenious ways than I can first thing on a Monday morning.

The progress so far has been wonderful but I always aim high and said we could get another 400 responses in the last week; I don’t think that is unreasonable, do you? Of course not!

Super

Broken Rainbow Survey Team

Details:
Online youth survey looks into the prevelance rates of domestic violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, etc, 18-25yos.
Broken Rainbow is a registered charity 1103624. Our helpline runs Monday and Thursday 2-8pm and Wednesday 10am – 1pm. 0300 999 LGBT (5428)
Our Fast track london service is: 0300 0110 327 (housing, counselling, etc)

Recruiting…

Paid Sessional Helpline Workers £14 p/hour (self employed) for Broken Rainbow National LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline

Broken Rainbow LGBT Domestic Violence Service (UK) runs the only national LGBT DV Helpline offering support to all LGBT people, their family, friends, and to professionals around the issue of domestic violence.

We are recruiting Helpline Sessional staff to provide support to callers on our helpline on a shifts basis.
You will have / be able to demonstrate:

Induction will be paid. Further LGBT DV, or Helpline Skills training can also be provided. Support (Debriefs) and supervision will be provided. All Sessional staff will also be required to attend Broken Rainbow induction and pass an evaluation.

Sessional rates: £14 – £18 p/h depending on experience and qualifications.
Base: London SE16 – subject to relocation near central london

Currently we are looking to cover 3 hour shifts on:
Mondays and Thursdays 2pm-5pm, 5pm-8pm
Wednesdays 10am-1pm

Contract will be on self employed basis.
Please send CV (max 2 A4 pages), with an outline of your suitability (max 1 A4 page) by email.
Please refer to the Person Spec and Job Description Sessional Helpline Workers (posted on our website)
Email: mail@broken-rainbow.org.uk
Website: www.broken-rainbow.org.uk

What can be provided for London lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans people seeking help surrounding domestic violence:

Emergency advice and safety planning
Housing advice/advocacy, including finding safe accommodation
Emotional support
Support groups
Legal advice on civil or criminal protection (e.g., non-molestation orders)
Support with police
Assisted police reporting and non-police reporting of incidents
Support through civil and criminal court system
Help finding solicitors
Advice on child safety and child contact issues
Family/parent support
Counselling
Specific support around sexual abuse

0300 0110 327 TUESDAY 10-1.30pm or 0300 999 5428 Mon 2-8pm, Wed 10-1pm, Thurs 2-8pm

A Belfast man stands accused of rape, grievous bodily harm, administering a substance with sexual intent, imprisoning and threats to kill against his ex-boyfriend

In the High Court, twenty seven charges have been levelled against the man who can not be named for legal reasons.

His ex-boyfriend, a foreign national, claims he was too afraid to report the abuse as the accused had threatened to inform his parents, friends and work he was gay. Defence counsel has insisted the sex was consensual and that they were in a long term relationship until the accused’s arrest in February this year.

“It’s a sad truth that a lack of understanding and ignorance around LGBT domestic violence, results in cases like this where the victim continues to be persecuted further by the criminal justice system. Domestic Violence includes sexual abuse, and the use of threats, particularly to out a gay person which is so clear as in this case. Same sex domestic violence cannot remain behind closed doors; we need to bring these issues out into the open so LGBT people living with domestic violence can break free of their abuse and our communities can receive the help and support they desperately need and deserve. It’s a basic human right.” says Rita Hirani, CEO of LGBT Domestic Violence charity, Broken Rainbow who run the only national lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans domestic violence helpline.

Prosecutors also claim the victim was beaten with body builders weights, made to stand in a freezing cold shower and falsely imprisoned.

The judge presiding over the case has refused the accused’s bail.

The case continues

END

Editors notes:

1. Broken Rainbow is a registered charity, number 1103624.
2. www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
3. 1 in 4 LGBT people experience domestic violence
4. Helpline: 0300 999 5428, Mon 2-8pm, Wed 10-2pm, Thur 2-8pm.
5. Broken Rainbow is funded by the Home Office with some works funded by: Nationwide Foundation and Department Of Health.

Editor’s facts:
1. “Comparing Domestic Abuse in Same Sex and Heterosexual Relationships by Catherine Donovan, Marianne Hester, Jonathan Holmes & Melanie McCarry”
2. In the survey, more than a third of respondents (38.4%, 266/692) said that they had experienced domestic abuse at some time in a same sex relationship. This included 40.1% (169/421) of the female and 35.2% (94/258) of the male respondents.
3. The British Crime Survey (2000) found that 57% of domestic violence victims were repeat victims. The prevalence of domestic violence and abuse suggests that there is a need to address this across a range of services, including child and adult services, domestic violence, safety services and other support systems.
4. Shortcuts to full studies are available from www.broken-rainbow.org.uk

Broken Rainbow News

Currently working or living in London? Are you experiencing any form of domestic violence from an intimate partner or family member?

What is Domestic Violence?

We define domestic violence as:

“any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between adults who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.”

Domestic violence can take many forms:

You may be in a civil partnership/living together or separated (recently or some time ago). You may have been in a relationship for a short time or for many years. You may be being abused by a member of your family.

There is a new fast track service available.

The London LGBT Domestic Abuse Project (DAP for short) consists of 5 LGBT agencies with their own specialist workers. Broken Rainbow, Galop, London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, PACE and Stonewall Housing are working together to provide specialist support services for lesbian, Gay, bisexual and trans people who have experienced domestic violence.

How we help?
The Broken Rainbow DAP telephone service is open on Tuesdays 10.30am – 1.30pm and is run by LGBT people for LGBT people. Trained staff who have an understanding of sexual and gender identities of LGBT people and the impact of domestic violence are available, and we can:

Opening times: TUESDAY 10.30 – 1.30pm 0300 0110 DAP (327)
Or during other hours call our LGBT Domestic Violence helpline on 0300 999 LGBT (5428) and ask to be referred: Monday and Thursday 2-8pm, and Wednesday 10am-1pm.

(0300 calls are the same price to ring as 01/02 landline numbers and are included as part of any inclusive call minutes)

Broken rainbow's logo

Broken Rainbow LGBT Domestic Violence Service (UK) is the UK charity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people experiencing domestic violence.

P/T Helpline Operations Co-ordinator

£22,693 – 26,739 (inc ILW)

(up to 21hrs p/week pro rata – review pending)

We need a dynamic individual to co-ordinate the smooth running and ongoing development of our national LGBT domestic violence helpline. Split between Broken Rainbow Office (SE16) and Helpline Base (London).
The successful applicant will ideally have experience of running a helpline, domestic violence work, supporting helpline staff, experience in the LGBT sector and confidently represent the organisation. This post requires the
applicants to positively identify as an LGBT person*.

For more information, job specification and how to apply please see our website
www.broken-rainbow.org.uk

Closing date for applications Sunday 19th June 2009

Interviews will be on Wednesday 24th June 2009

If you would like to talk about the role please contact us on mail at brokenrainbow.
org.uk

*A genuine occupational requirement applies to the post under the Employment Equality (Sexual
Orientation) Regulations 2003

Hello all.

The hunt for volunteers for our joint stall with UNISON at Reading, Margate, Oxford, Brighton and Thanet; and our Broken Rainbow London stall, went so very well that we thought, “why don’t we see if we can get more people together for some of the other UK pride events?”

We have a fantastic Pride coordinator, James, gathering all of the information so we can make this an even bigger year for raising awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) domestic violence.

If you’d like to help out then please see our facebook group for more details.

Look at the EVENTS and you will see approx 30 UK Prides. If you can help out then contact our admin, James (details on Facebook)

For immediate release

Domestic Violence continues to be on the national agenda as the rate of victimisation is so devastating. The levels of abuse to heterosexual women are 1 in 4 – the same figure experienced by LGBT people.

“Domestic violence is still invisible in our communities,” says Rita Hirani, CEO of Broken Rainbow, funded by the Home Office to run the national LGBT domestic violence helpline.

“Limited research in terms of domestic violence and abuse amongst transgendered people suggests the figure may even be higher,” adds Denise Anderson from Spectrum London, a peer support forum for all trans people and those questioning their gender.

In previous research carried out by Brighton’s Spectrum LGBT Forums Count Me In Too project, along with Press For Change’s research in their Endangered Penalties report, it was shown that an alarming figure of 64% of Trans people had experienced Domestic Violence at some time.

“This is a large percentage of transgendered people, one that when presented to various organisations brings looks of surprise and alarm, because many have not encountered transgendered people contacting them for assistance,” says Denise.

With this in mind Spectrum London along with Broken Rainbow feel it is time to revisit this subject, consulting Transgendered people, investigating if these levels are more indicative of a wider audience nationally. The survey hopes to confirm previous research, and raise awareness to agencies and service providers of the issues surrounding domestic violence in the transgendered communities.

“With increased awareness of these issues to support organisations, we hope transgendered people will feel more comfortable to be able to report issues of a domestic violence nature, knowing support is available,” says Denise.

The Online survey can be found here: http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=1012451

The survey will be open from 1st June 2009 until the 1st September 2009. We will then collate the information and will be presenting the findings from early October.
Please can you share this survey with as many organisations as possible within the LGBT community and beyond so that the message can be spread far and wide to transgendered people in the UK.

END

Editor’s Notes:

Spectrum London is a peer support forum for all trans people and those questioning their gender.

http://www.spectrumlondon.org.uk/

Broken Rainbow is a registered charity in the UK, number: 1103624

http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk

Broken Rainbow run the national LGBT helpline on 0300 999 LGBT (5428) on Monday 2-8pm, Wed 10-1pm, and Thursday 2-8pm.

Research:
Women’s Aid: http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-violence-articles.asp?section=00010001002200410001&itemid=1280&itemTitle=Statistics%3A+how+common+is+domestic+violence
Spectrum LGBT Forum Brighton’s Count Me In Too: http://www.spectrum-lgbt.org/cmiToo/downloads/
Press for Change Report: http://www.pfc.org.uk/files/EngenderedPenalties.pdf