domestic violence

Two studies refute myth that intimate-partner violence is not an LGBT crisis.

The Senate passed the first LGBT-inclusive version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with a bi-partisan 68-31 vote, introducing explicit protections for LGBT survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Domestic violence is violence. Drop the "domestic" and it might be prosecuted more readily.

The server has been cut off after scrawling an offensive sign.

Photos of Glee actress Heather Morris, sporting a massive black eye, hit the web last week, and the disturbing pics sent the blogosphere into a tizzy. Morris, known for her role as the ditzy blond Cheerio on Glee, adorned with a hideous black-and-blue eye, posed amidst household items – or the trappings of domesticity if you will -- such as an ironing board and iron, for photographer Tyler Shields.

The U.S. House of Representatives today reauthorized the LGBT-inclusive Senate version of Violence Against Women Act, despite objections from some Republicans about language protecting LGBT, Native American, and undocumented victims of domestic violence. The bill now heads to President Obama's desk, where he has promised to sign it into law.

The Live Sweet Voluntour flew into Orlando, FL, April 16-18, led by Shannon Wentworth, Sweet CEO and co-founder. Live Sweet is taking the Sweet Volunteer message to cities around the US while meeting local women and working volunteer projects, having fun in the process. For the kickoff, Sweet collected food and cell phones for the Orlando Harbor House domestic violence shelter. Each year the 94-bed shelter provides temporary refuge for some 700 to 800 people, mainly women and children, although it is open to all victims regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion or gender.

Hope Solo is awaiting trial for domestic violence.

The newlyweds have received the longest suspension in WNBA history, due to a domestic violence incident.

The House of Representatives approved reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, but did not approve of the portion that would have explicitly included LGBT victims of violence. The bill passed 222-205 on Wednesday. According to the Human Rights Campaign, Republican representative Judy Biggert wanted to add an amendment to increase specific protections for LGBT victims of domestic violence, but House leadership blocked her from introducing the amendment. Earlier this month, the Senate passed VAWA with a bipartisan 68-31 vote.

The Justice Department has decided that Federal prosecutors can enforce criminal provisions in the Violence Against Women Act in cases involving gay and lesbian relationships. David J. Barron, an Assistant Attorney General at the Justice Department, confirmed that prosecutors can enforce the law in cases involving interstate stalking and domestic violence regardless of whether the victim or the defendant is a man or a woman.

This week on Cherry Bomb the ladies welcome Roberta Munroe director of the short film Dani and Alice which takes a look into domestic violence in a lesbian relationship. What do you do if you find yourself in a violent relationship? Does the lesbian community have more of a tolerance for 'crazy'? What's the line and how do you stop the cycle? And in place of our question of the week we provide some resources for you to deal with violence in your relationship or how to find help for a friend who may need it.

The tiny island-nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines may conjure thoughts of sunny, sandy beaches, but residents of the island, many of whom are female, are making up one of the largest groups to seek asylum in Canada over the last decade. Though the islands are thought of as a traveler’s haven, the nation has been enduring low trade, 22% unemployment, and growing domestic violence rates.