"I've only seen a handful of LGBT clients" : exploring how ideology, organizational issues, and society influence domestic violence programs

This thesis explores factors impeding domestic violence services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender survivors of domestic violence. Web-based and postal services were utilized to determine services available to LGBT survivors of domestic abuse at domestic violence shelters. Later, interviews were conducted with nine executive directors and direct service staff members of domestic violence to determine what factors influence the services available to non-heterosexual survivors. The study argues that staff ideology on domestic violence and feminism, organizational environment, professionalization, institutionalization and funding, and the backlash towards violent women influence the services available at domestic violence organizations.