Anti-violence advocates are calling for straight and cisgender allies to stand in solidarity with LGBTQI Australians who experience domestic violence.
More than 60 per cent of LGBTQI people say they have experienced domestic or family violence in a relationship - but due to low levels of reporting, victim-survivors remain largely invisible.
May 28 marks LGBTQI Domestic Violence Awareness Day, a reminder that violence does not discriminate based on sexuality or gender identity.
Shame, stigma and gender bias in assumptions about domestic violence stopped Luke McIlroy-Ranga from seeking help when he experienced a violent relationship.
Now chair of the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation, he wants people to understand there are many intersecting challenges for queer victim-survivors.
"For our communities there is often a fear of being outed to their families, friends and workplaces and this is often used by perpetrators as a weapon," Mr Luke McIlroy-Ranga told AAP.
