Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people are more likely to be exposed to domestic violence than the rest of the population. Using a descriptive qualitative methodology, 28 professionals from the educational sector, aged between 28 and 64 years old (M = 44.5), were interviewed to describe and understand their perspectives on the sector’s ability to support, intervene and get involved with LGBTI people and, particularly, with victims or former victims of domestic violence. Through a thematic content analysis, three main themes emerged: (i) life trajectories of LGBTI people; (ii) domestic violence perpetrated against LGBTI people; and (iii) training of the educational sector to intervene with LGBTI people. The results show that Portuguese education professionals are not trained to recognize and intervene with LGBTI people and, in particular, with those who are victims of domestic violence, since they are unaware of the existence of protocols and/or guidelines for detecting and preventing risk situations among students. Furthermore, the curricular plan fails in the coverage of domestic violence and LGBTI-related topics, although the National Strategy for Citizenship Education has been implemented in Portugal since 2017. Findings suggest the need to invest in education professionals’ training.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) people are more likely to be exposed to domestic violence when compared with others. Using a qualitative methodology, 16 LGBT people were interviewed to analyze their experiences as victims of sexual violence by family members and/or partners or former partners. Through a thematic content analysis, three main themes emerge regarding sexual violence: (i) dynamics of sexual violence; (ii) traumatic memories and dissociation episodes from sexual violence, and (iii) risk factors for the occurrence of sexual violence. The results show that participants have suffered sexual violence in childhood, adulthood, or both, with trans people being the most victimized. Coercion, manipulation, threats, and deprivation were the most common strategies used to restrict victims and prevent them from reporting the crime. Many participants report blocking their traumatic memories, as a coping mechanism related to the sexual violence suffered. Offender substance abuse, early age of victims at the time of their sexual victimization, and depressive symptoms were reported to increase the likelihood of an episode of sexual violence. It is necessary to assure specialized training among the professionals that work with LGBT victims of sexual violence within domestic contexts, considering the severe impacts they may face.

This chapter presents the main characteristics of intimate partner violence perpetrated in Portugal, discussing policy, legal, and academic advances in the last three decades. Although relevant steps have been taken concerning victims' rights, with children and women benefiting from policies, legislation, mechanisms, and resources, domestic violence and partner homicide rates are still high, suggesting that measures and strategies to prevent and combat this have not been effective. Future directions are discussed regarding cultural, social, and scientific issues.

This investigation analyzed the attitudes of Portuguese judges and victim support professionals toward intimate partner homicide committed by women. By administering an online survey disseminated by the Portuguese Superior Council for the Magistracy and the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality, we found that both groups of professionals are not always aligned in their attitudes toward domestic violence and intimate partner homicide, which could jeopardize the articulation between both sectors needed for an effective preventive intervention. However, most professionals of both groups tend to disagree that women provoke their aggressors or lie about their condition as victims of domestic violence and agree that there is a need for increased security and prevention of intimate partner homicides against female and male victims when reporting domestic violence.

O homicídio conjugal praticado por mulheres ocorre sobretudo em contextos de vitimação. Este texto apresenta um estudo qualitativo realizado através da análise de conteúdo temática das entrevistas semiestruturadas e da análise documental dos processos individuais prisionais de seis reclusas portuguesas condenadas pelo homicídio dos seus companheiros ou ex-companheiros, procurando a eventual relação entre a prática do crime e a exposição a um historial prévio de violência de género na intimidade e problematizando a sua defesa perante o sistema jurídico-penal. Concluiu-se que todas foram vítimas de violência de género por parte dos seus companheiros e que existem lacunas no sistema jurídico-penal relativamente à condenação destas mulheres.