The NCAVP report also highlights the finding that statutes in seven states exclude same-sex victims of domestic violence from qualifying for a domestic violence protective order. In three additional states, these orders are arguably unavailable. Statutes in only four states make these orders explicitly available to same-sex victims.

Other findings of the report include:

• The number of reports by men (52 percent) and women (48 percent) were essentially equal.

• The programs reporting serve a population of only 47 million, or less than 20 percent of the nation's population.

LGBT domestic violence still appears to be vastly under-reported, and appropriate services in most locations are not available.

Men are supposed to be aggressive.

Women don't really hurt each other. It's only a "cat-fight."

Women don't batter.

It's not domestic violence, it's "mutual" battering.

Abuse in same-sex relationships is different from domestic violence in heterosexual relationships.

LGTB people will identify as lesbian/gay/transgender/bisexual.

LGTB people have a lot of friends and "community" supports.

The bigger, butcher partner is the batterer.

You can always recognize a batterer.

Abuse in LGTB relationships is really just S&M.

Children are not part of the equation.

Gay men who are raped "wanted it."

Lesbians can't rape each other.

(Myths adapted from © 1998 R.S. Nickel, Training Materials, from Fenway Community Health Center and from the NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence project )