title: Intimate partner violence and HIV/STD risk among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
abstract: To date, there has been little research examining HIV/STD risk among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals who are in abusive relationships. This article uses data collected from a community-based organization that provides counseling for LGBT victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). A total of 58 clients completed the survey, which inquired as to sexual violence and difficulties negotiating safer sex with their abusive partners. A large percentage of participants reported being forced by their partners to have sex (41%). Many stated that they felt unsafe to ask their abusive partners to use safer sex protection or that they feared their partners' response to safer sex (28%). In addition, many participants experienced sexual (19%), physical (21%), and/or verbal abuse (32%) as a direct consequence of asking their partner to use safer sex protection. Training counselors on issues of sexuality and safer sex will benefit victims of IPV.
authors.affiliation: New York University Law School, USA.
authors.forename: Adam Jackson
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Heintz
authors.forename: Rita M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Melendez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014190:Transvestism / Q000523:psychology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*