Some parts of family law are tender. Others are joyful. Unfortunately, some, like this one, are about survival.
If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and living in fear, facing abuse behind closed doors, or trying to find a way out of an unsafe relationship, please know this: You are not alone. You are not to blame. You do have options.
Lawyers know that domestic violence doesn’t always fit the picture people expect. It’s not always visible bruises or loud arguments. It can be quiet control, constant fear, or the deep ache of being silenced in your own home. Abuse can hide behind “private matters” or take place in relationships that outsiders refuse to validate. That’s why we make it our mission to offer legal protection without judgment and to treat every survivor with the respect they deserve.
💔 Abuse Comes in Many Forms, And It Doesn’t Discriminate
Domestic abuse doesn’t only happen in heterosexual, married households. It happens in all kinds of relationships between people of any gender, in families of every structure. For LGBTQIA+ survivors, abuse can take on unique forms that are often overlooked, minimized, or misunderstood.
It might be a partner threatening to out you at work or to your family. It could be someone withholding access to hormones, medications, or healthcare. Maybe it’s financial control, or refusing to let you access shared money or pay rent in your own home. Or it could be emotional abuse: constant criticism, isolation from loved ones, or making you feel like no one else would believe you. It can also be physical violence. Slaps. Shoves. Sexual Assault, battery with or without deadly force. Whatever shape it takes, abuse is real. It’s serious. It is never your fault.
⚖️ You Do Have Legal Protection in Alabama
Despite the fear or misinformation you may have heard, Alabama law does protect LGBTQIA+ survivors of domestic violence. You have the right to seek a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order, regardless of your gender identity, sexual orientation, or whether you were married to your abuser.
A PFA can legally require your abuser to stay away from you, stop all contact, and leave a shared home. It can also give you temporary custody of children, allow you to retrieve belongings with a police escort, and create real consequences if your abuser violates the order.
🏳️⚧️ LGBTQIA+ Survivors Face Real Barriers, But You Don’t Have to Face Them Alone
Many LGBTQIA+ survivors worry they won’t be believed. Some have already faced discrimination from police, judges, or shelters. Others fear that reaching out for help will out to family, employers, or community members. These fears are valid, and they’re exactly why working with someone who understands makes all the difference.
Lawyers will NEVER ask you to justify your identity or explain why your relationship “counts.” You are not a case file to us. You are a person who deserves safety, dignity, and legal protection. We walk into court in a suit, yes, but under that, we bring compassion, strength, and fierce advocacy. You don’t have to face this system alone. We’ll stand with you every step of the way.
🧡 You Can Start Small And Still Be Brave
Leaving an abusive situation or even acknowledging the harm can be overwhelming. We want you to know that you don’t have to have it all figured out today. Reaching out doesn’t mean you’re committing to a court battle. It simply means you’re choosing to gather information. To explore options. To remind yourself that your safety matters.
Even small steps matter:
- Creating a safety plan
- Gathering important documents
- Talking to a trusted friend or therapist
- Scheduling a confidential consultation to ask questions and understand your rights
There is no “right” timeline. There is only your timeline. We’ll meet you wherever you are on it with compassion, without pressure.
💬 You Are Worth Protecting
If no one has told you today, let us be the first: You deserve to be safe. You deserve to love and live without fear. You deserve relationships built on mutual respect, not power, control, or fear of retaliation.
🛟 LGBTQIA+-Affirming Shelters & Hotlines in Alabama
Here are some trusted resources that can offer safety, shelter, and support:
🏠 Local LGBTQIA+-Affirming Shelters & Centers
- AIDS Alabama – The Way Station (Birmingham) – 205-324-9822
- Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO) – 205-322-4197
- Montgomery Pride United – 334-356-2464
- Shoals Diversity Center (Florence) – shoalsdiversitycenter@gmail.com
📞 LGBTQIA+ Support Hotlines
- The Trevor Project (Youth) – 1-866-488-7386 | Text “START” to 678-678
- Trans Lifeline – 1-877-565-8860
- LGBT National Hotline – 1-888-843-4564
- LGBT Youth Talkline – 1-800-246-7743
- SAGE LGBT Elder Hotline – 1-877-360-LGBT (5428)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) | Text “START” to 88788
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.
