Domestic Violence: Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior designed to gain and maintain control over another person by using fear, humiliation, verbal, physical threats, or violence.
Rape & Sexual Assault: Sexual assault can occur between people of different genders (sex), or of the same gender. Even if the person was your date, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or someone you live with, they still need your consent.
Stalking: Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Unlike other crimes that involve a single incident, stalking is a pattern of behavior. It is often made up of individual acts that could, by themselves, seem harmless or noncriminal, but when taken in the context of a stalking situation, could constitute criminal acts.
35.6%
Of WOMEN in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime
28%
Of MEN in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime
44%
Of LESBIAN WOMEN in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner.
61%
Of BISEXUAL WOMEN in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner.
26%
Of GAY MEN experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner.
37%
Of BISEXUAL MEN experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner.
Identifying the Signs of Abuse
Does your intimate partner ever:
- Humiliate you in private or public?
- Kept you from working, controlled money, made all decisions?
- Pressured you or forced you to have sex?
- Pressured you or forced you to do sexual things you were not comfortable with?
- Pushed, grabbed, slapped, or bit you?
- Hit, punched, kicked, or strangled you?
- Hurt or threatened you with a weapon?
- Threaten to hurt themselves if they don’t get what they want?
- Stalk you, including calling you constantly or following you?
If you recognize these signs of domestic violence in your relationship, you are not alone; we are here to help you. Our Hotline is available 24/7; 802-442-2111 or 800-228-7395.
You are not alone. You are not to blame. You do not deserve to be abuse. You have rights. You can get help.