because everyone should know this -

[staxxy]

It is important that we are able able to recognize the signs of domestic violence. DV is not just physical abuse. It is also mental and sexual abuse

Comments

relevant links:

[dansfey]

These sites really spell it out, and make a clear distinction between abuse and SM. I had a friend once who is a *player* and because of the DS relationship she was at the time invested in... she was oblivious to the very clear abusive aspect of the relationship.

Unfortunately, it took a rape from the person she was playing with to clue her into what was happening...
It took her a long time to recover, and to separate the nonconsensual act from the play.

("SM is not abuse" education for people who play, and others who are curious.)

http://crymsin.tripod.com/LSM/DSandabuse.htm

http://www.ncsfreedom.org/library/whatissm/chapter3.htm

(The following link is to the *Northwest Network* site.)

"We provide support and advocacy for LBGT folks of all genders who are surviving abuse."

http://www.nwnetwork.org/