stalking

Domestic violence is a painful reality that affects individuals across all demographics. Within the LGBTQ+ community, it can be as prevalent as it is in traditional families—if not more so. Perhaps you are in a same-sex relationship in which an argument escalated to the point of a physical altercation–and perhaps you were shocked to discover that your actions qualified as domestic violence and led to your arrest. What can you do to address the issue and, just as importantly, avoid a recurrence?

The fact is that whether the charge is domestic battery, stalking, or criminal threats, California law treats acts of domestic violence the same regardless of the family structure in which it occurs. Let’s explore how domestic violence may work its way into LGBTQ+ relationships, the risk factors involved, and how to minimize these risks both in the present and the future.

The Prevalence of Domestic Violence in LGBTQ+ Relationships

It’s a scenario that can be both surprising and shocking. You have a verbal disagreement with your spouse or domestic partner (as most couples do). Emotions get heated, and you say some things you shouldn’t have said—and maybe didn’t mean. Someone observes the argument and calls the cops—or maybe your partner makes the call herself. A short time later, you get a visit from the police and find yourself arrested on charges of domestic violence or accused of making criminal threats—even though you never physically touched your spouse!

How could this happen? Could you actually be convicted of domestic violence under these circumstances? Theoretically, you could—especially if your heated exchange included verbal threats. Let’s talk about how California law views emotional abuse as part of domestic violence and when heated words might cross the line into a criminal act.

Articles Tagged with stalking

Domestic Violence Within the LGBTQ+ Community

When Does Emotional Abuse Become a Criminal Act in California?

Emotional Abuse and Domestic Violence