"Why Doesn't He Just Leave?": Gay Male Domestic Violence and the Reasons Victims Stay

Abstract

This study explores domestic violence within a gay male relationship while continuing to expand on previous work regarding gay male domestic violence, in general, and specifically examines why battered gay men stay in violent and abusive relationships. Twenty-five self-identified gay or bisexual men who indicated previous experience with domestic violence in a same-sex relationship were interviewed via snowball sampling methodology. Respondents offered reasons for staying that mimic reasons battered women stay in abusive relations, such as financial dependence, love, hope for change, and fear of escalated violence. More research is needed to explore issues such as the intergenerational transmission of violence theory, gender role expectations, and gay men's relationship styles.