Violence in lesbian relationships is an issue that has been kept "behind closed doors" until fairly recently. It has only been in the recent past that women have begun to name and discuss their abusive experiences. One reason for this may be that abuse in general has, until recently, been hidden. But additional factors have made it more difficult for lesbians to discuss abuse in their relationships. Many lesbians view lesbian relationships as a positive alternative to heterosexual relationships. There is often an assumption that women interact in a caring and supportive manner and therefore cannot be abusers. Thus, abuse is thought to occur only in heterosexual relationships. Other factors are the stereotypes and prejudices that society has about lesbians. There is fear that open discussion about abuse will generate even more negative images about the lesbian community. This paper is written for lesbians who have been in abusive relationships, for friends and families, for lesbian organizations, and for those who work in the area of violence against women. We have used the word "lesbian" as well as "woman" in order to acknowledge that not all women in same-sex intimate relationships identify as lesbian. The objective in this work is to bring assault "out of the closet" and to provide preliminary guidelines for responding to this issue. The examination of violence in lesbian relationships begins by addressing the diversity of lesbian experience and the social context surrounding lesbianism.--FROM FOREWORD AND INTRODUCTION

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