Join us on Wednesday, July 2nd as the AVA Webinar Series presents Myths and Misconceptions About Intimate Partner Violence Among Sexual and Gender Minorities with Stefan Kurbatfinski from the University of Calgary.
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025
12 – 1:30pm MST
Intimate partner violence (IPV), referring to different forms of violence or abuse between two or more intimate partners, negatively impacts physical and mental health, performance in various settings, and familial functioning, all of which can lead to long-term adverse outcomes. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals tend to experience similar or greater frequencies of IPV compared to their cisheterosexual counterparts. Stigma and discrimination toward sexual and gender diversity can lead to myths and misconceptions about relationship dynamics among SGM individuals, which can contribute to IPV occurrence within the community. In this webinar, we will (1) discuss the intersections between traditional ways of perceiving intimate partner relationships and sexual and gender diversity, (2) use qualitative data drawn from SGM individuals with lived experience of IPV and relevant service providers to identify harmful myths and misconceptions, and (3) provide tangible recommendations to reduce myths and misconceptions so that SGM individuals are more optimally supported when experiencing IPV.
About the Speaker
Stefan Kurbatfinski, BSc, is a 4th year Doctoral Student in the Department of Community Health Sciences Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is committed to conducting research that targets and identifies health disparities among families experiencing vulnerabilities, with emphasis among sexual and gender minority groups. Mr. Kurbatfinski has a planned post-doctoral position at the University of Toronto in which he hopes to further investigate longitudinal parent-child development among sexual and gender minority parents and their children.