thehotline.org

There are numerous reasons why people may choose to open their relationship, but it’s important that you are able to discuss those reasons/desires in an honest, nonconfrontational way with your partner so you can design the style of non-monogamy that works for both of you. If you’re noticing that your partner never “likes” any of your other partner(s), or that fights with this partner tend to force you to cancel dates with another partner, that’s a big red flag. Engaging in non-monogamous relationships can sometimes create a built-in support network of intimate partners and metamours (the partner of your partner, with whom one does not share a romantic relationship, but may have a friendship). In a poly relationship, a safety plan might mean reaching out to friends or family members outside the polyamory community, if the abusive partner has turned the community against you; or, if it feels safe to do so, reaching out to leaders in the larger community to let them know what is happening could be an option.

Through active discrimination, fear of discrimination, criminalization, societal stigma, and a lack of legal protections for people living with HIV, there can be a multitude of unique ways abusive partners can use their power and control to isolate and manipulate survivors who are HIV-positive. Forcing a survivor to pay for new medication or treatments by stealing or destroying their current supply • Sabotaging or refusing to use safer sex methods a survivor wants to use • If you are a minor and have concerns about getting tested, whether that’s regarding confidentiality/parental notification, cost, or something else, Title X may offer free or low-cost services via clinics that don’t require parental consent. If you have immediate questions about your sexual or reproductive health, some of your options include: chatting or texting with a professional health educator, learning more about the potential risk of contracting a sexually-transmitted infection (also known as an STD) or getting pregnant from specific sex acts, or finding an affordable health center near you that can answer your questions.

“We are thankful to Rep. Karen Bass and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick for prioritizing the urgent needs of survivors with the introduction of a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization. The National Domestic Violence Hotline was created 24 years ago through the passage of VAWA. Since then, The Hotline and it’s education and prevention project for youth, loveisrespect, have served more than 4.8 million survivors of domestic violence and dating violence through text, chat, and phone services. Every day all day, our highly trained advocates empower victims with safety planning, crisis intervention, compassionate support, and resources funded by VAWA, such as housing, legal assistance, counseling, and other services.

When abuse takes place, the abusive person steps outside of the rules of civility in order to coerce, humiliate, physically harm, and sometimes even kill a victim. As you’ll read below, it is not recommended that you discuss or confront your ex abusive partner with your decision to forgive, which means that they will not know that you’re forgiving them; this leaves them largely unaffected by the forgiveness. When abuse is involved, though, a face-to-face reconciliation is likely NOT safe, would very likely provide no benefit, and may result in the abuser trying to manipulate the situation for their gain. The first steps in this process involve finding a safe place and some time to process anger and blame.