Episode 11 - A Conversation About Domestic Violence Part 2

In this episode, I pick. up my conversation with Lovern Gordon, President of Love Life Now (www.lovelifenow.org). The episode begins with a listing of the different types of abuse: coercion and threats, intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, minimizing, denying and blaming, using children, economic abuse and male privilege. These all come from the Power and Control Wheel by the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence website www.ncdav.org.

Lovern and I continue our discussion focusing on the warning and tell tale signs that the relationship you are in could turn abusive. We also discuss the complicated issues of why a person stays in an abusive relationship. Domestic violence is not black and white; the shades of grey can keep someone in danger for a long time.

Most importantly, we talk about what bystanders can do to help and how just being a listening ear helps victims. Below, are the resources listed in the first episode. My hope is that someone who needs help will reach out or that a bystander will get familiar with the domestic violence resources in their community. That way, the bystander can (when the time is right) offer suggestions for the person they care about.

Although Domestic Violence Awareness month is celebrated in October, this issue should be openly discussed all year long. Thank you for listening and your interest in this important topic.

National Domestic Violence Resources:

Love Life Now Foundation - 888-LLN-9876; www.lovelifenow.org
The National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE); www.ndvh.org
National Dating Abuse Helpline - 1-866-331-9474; www.loveisrespect.org
Women of Color Network - 1-800-537-2238; www.wocninc.org
Casa de Esperanza - 1-651-772-1611; www.casadeesperanza.org
The National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project - 202-274-4457; http://www.niwap.org
A Call to Men - 917-922-6738; www.acalltomen.org
Northwest Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian & Gay Survivors of Abuse - 206-568-7777