A domestic abuse charity supporting male victims in Northern Ireland has revealed that up to 12% of those seeking help are in same-sex relationships. The Men’s Advisory Project NI is now calling on more members of the LGBTQ+ community who are suffering from abuse to come forward and seek the support they need.

Chief Executive Rhonda Lusty emphasised the unique challenges faced by men in abusive situations, particularly those who are queer. She pointed out that societal norms often make it difficult for men to seek help for domestic abuse, and this challenge is compounded for gay men who may feel even more isolated or stigmatised.

“We see the largest number of gay men coming to us for help with abuse,” Lusty said in conversation with The Belfast Telegraph. “Every year, between 8-12% of the people we assist are gay or bisexual men, or men who don’t identify as gay or bi but who have sex with men.”

She highlighted that this figure represents around 140 men from the LGBTQ+ community in Northern Ireland who turn to the charity for support regarding domestic abuse each year.

This statistic is particularly concerning in light of findings from the Rainbow Project’s 2021 State of the Community report, which surveyed over 1,130 LGBTQ+ individuals within the Republic of Ireland. The research showed a significant reluctance among LGBTQ+ people to report crimes, including domestic abuse. The study found that 42% of respondents had experienced being in a relationship that was harmful or abusive, whether verbally, physically, or sexually.

Domestic abuse is a pervasive issue affecting individuals across all sections of society. However, the stigma surrounding male victims, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, often prevents them from seeking help. The Men’s Advisory Project NI and other organisations like it are working to break down these barriers and encourage more people to come forward.

In 2022, Men’s Aid Ireland launched an LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence initiative to address the specific needs of this community. Derek Byrne, speaking about the initiative at the time, told GCN, “I’ll be addressing domestic violence from various perspectives, including transgender and female-female relationships, but Men’s Aid primarily focuses on men as victims of domestic violence.”

If you or someone you know is affected by the issues discussed in this article, support is available through the aforementioned organisations, or the Domestic and Sexual Abuse helpline available by phoning 0808 802 1414 or emailing [email protected].