Family violence and LGBTIQA+ communities

Family violence can affect anyone. It can happen in many types of relationships.

LGBTIQA+ people can experience family violence in their family of birth or choice, as well as their intimate partner relationships. They may also face additional barriers to seeking help.

Victoria Police takes all reports of family violence seriously.

If you experience family violence, you can get help from both police and speciality support services.

How family violence affects LGBTIQA+ people

Family violence can include many types of behaviours like physical assault, sexual violence, emotional abuse and coercive control.

There are also some forms of family violence that are unique to LGBTIQA+ people, such as a partner or family member threatening to ‘out’ you, or withhold or restrict access to medication or tools that you use to express your gender.

Sometimes LGBTIQA+ people can experience family violence from multiple people at the same time, such as from an intimate partner or a family member. This can make it feel harder to get help and increase social isolation.

Some of the unique types of family violence that affect LGBTIQA+ people are below.

Types of psychological abuse can include:
- threatening to expose your gender identity, sexuality, intersex status, or personal health information to your friends, family, or colleagues
- intentionally using your incorrect pronouns, or refusing to use your affirmed name. This is also known as ‘deadnaming’
- using derogatory language about your gender identity, sexuality or intersex status, or dictating how you express yourself in social contexts.
Ways you may be socially isolated can include:
- preventing you from connecting with friends and family, such as forcing you to choose between an intimate partner relationship or extended family
- threats to exclude you from the LGBTIQA+ community or other social network, if the relationship breaks down.
Coercive control can include:
- pressuring you to follow gender norms, for example telling you to dress or act a certain way
- threatening to tell lies about you to the community to embarrass you
- causing you to feel scared, ashamed or embarrassed to express your gender identity or sexuality, or making you feel you can’t say no.
Change or suppression practices can include:
- Practices that seek to change or hide your sexual orientation or gender identity that are harmful and unlawful.
- Teachings, counselling, spiritual care activities, or other medical interventions based on ideology that there is something wrong with or broken about people with diverse sexualities or gender identities. They are sometimes referred to as conversion therapy.
On 17 February 2022, the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021 came into effect. The Act bans change or suppression practices.
For more information, visit the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s website.

Report family violence

To report family violence to police:

in an emergency or life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000)
if there is no immediate danger, call or visit your local police station during their opening hours.

You can also report family violence and get help from support services directly without involving police.

Contact an LGBTIQA+ Liaison Officer (LLO)

If your matter is non-urgent, you can choose to speak to a Victoria Police LGBTIQA+ Liaison Officer (LLO).

There are more than 550 LLOs working across Victoria.

LLOs can provide:

advice about personal safety and protection
help with reporting crime, and
support in navigating police services and links to relevant support services.

You can find your nearest LLO on LGBTIQA+ Liaison Officers.

How police respond to family violence

When police attend or receive a report of family violence, their priority is to ensure safety. They do this by identifying risks and then investigating any offences.

Police officers will conduct an initial risk assessment, which is documented in a family violence report. The report is then referred to The Orange Door so additional safety support can be provided.

Risk management actions by police may include issuing a family violence safety notice or applying for an intervention order from the courts.

Police may ask you how you identify, and how you describe your relationship with the other person. This ensures that support and safety referrals line up with your individual needs.

Police will record what you tell them in police systems. It is standard for police to record all contact with the public using a Body Worn Camera, to reduce the number of times you may need to tell your story.

Our goal is for all victim-survivors – no matter their sexuality, gender identity or sex characteristics – to feel confident in the police response.

For more information about how Victoria Police responds to family violence, including ways we support LGBTQIA+ communities, see the Victorian Government’s MARAM Knowledge Guide.

How you can help someone you know

Sometimes a friend, neighbour or colleague might see or hear a glimpse of what is really going on.

If you’re concerned about someone you care about, you can help.

You can offer victim-survivors a safe space to talk, and listen. Believe them and encourage them to seek help from police or a specialist support service.

You don’t need to be an expert. Asking a simple question, like “Are you safe at home?”, can help start meaningful conversations and increase a victim-survivor’s safety.

For more information about how you can build confidence to have the conversation, visit Safe + Equal’s website.

LGBTIQA+ support services in Victoria

Find referrals for non-justice options to support your safety and recovery.

The Victims of Crime Helpline offers free information and support for people affected by crime.
The helpline provides:
- a supportive listening environment for victims of crime
- information about victim entitlements and the criminal justice system
- information about the legal process
- connections to other support services, such as the Victims Assistance Program.
The helpline is available between 8am-7pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-5pm Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
- Call: 1800 819 817
- Text: 0427 767 891
- Website: Victims of Crime.
Rainbow Door is a free, specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline.
They provide information, support and referrals to LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family.
Rainbow Door support people of all ages and identities with issues including family and intimate partner violence.
Rainbow Door operate 10am to 5pm, seven days a week.
- Phone: 1800 729 367
- Text: 0480 017 246
- Website: Rainbow Door.
Thorne Harbour Health provide counselling services to LGBTIQA+ communities. They also run a behaviour change program.
- Phone: (03) 9865 6700 (9am to 6pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 5pm Friday)
- Website: Thorne Harbour Health.
Queerspace provides a safe and supportive space to help LGBTIQA+ people find information and services. The services aim to improve health and wellbeing.
They are available Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm.
- Phone: (03) 9663 6733
- Website: Queerspace.

Family violence Crime prevention

Updated 22 May 2025