by Jacqueline Williams and Kathleen O’Connell

About the authors: Jacqueline Williams is a member of the Coalition Against Same-Sex Partner Abuse (CASSPA) and facilitates groups on lesbian relationships. Kathleen O’Connell is a social worker who provides individual and group counseling to women who are at risk of or who have experienced violence in their lives. She is also a member of CASSPA.

Much is known and understood about violence in heterosexual relationships. The campaign against ‘wife assault’ and domestic violence has enlightened many about violence in intimate male-female relationships. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about violence in same-sex relationships. Education is needed so that violence in lesbian relationships will be seen as an issue in need of attention and intervention. Addressing violence in...