ARIES MAGAZINE 2014 MAY | Page 88

GETTING OUT The problems faced by men and women in a “traditional” relationship are the same experience by LGBT-Q relationships.The primary reason given by victims for staying with their abusers is fear of violence and the lack of real options to be safe. This fear of violence is realistic. Research shows that domestic violence tends to escalate when victims leave their relationship. Some perpetrators repeatedly threaten to kill or seriously injure their victims should they attempt to leave. The victim may have already attempted to leave in the past, only to be tracked down by the perpetrator and seriously injured. Most perpetrators do not let victims simply leave relationships. 8 8 M A Y 2 014 / ARIES 24-Hour Hotline: 1.800.832.1901