Sleeping in her car to escape the violence in her home, Claire Smith (not her real name) realised her situation was desperate enough to turn to a women's shelter.

But the idea of having to explain to someone that she was running from her female partner stopped her.

Activists say domestic violence in the LGBTI community is under-reported, and there needs to be more appropriate and targeted support services for gay victims.

The Queensland Government has committed $155,000 towards training frontline workers to better respond to domestic violence callouts in the LGBTI community.

The funding would be used to create resources to support training across Queensland, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer said.

"We want to equip frontline workers to recognise domestic and family violence in the LGBTIQ+ community and respond to perpetrators, victims and their children," Ms Farmer said.

"This project will focus on training staff in the domestic and family violence sector as well as other relevant professions so they know what to do when faced with these situations."

The Queensland AIDS Council will deliver the new training program across the state.

Police want to build trust for gay victims

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) also wants to improve its response to LGBTI domestic violence callouts and build trust within the community.

The Government has committed $155,000 towards training frontline workers. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Stevenson )

"To try and have that conversation and the confusion that might result from 'Why is it a woman that you're trying to escape from?' meant it absolutely it took me longer to leave," Ms Smith said.

"I honestly didn't expect to ever be in that situation, being in a same-sex relationship it had never entered my mind that it could be something that could potentially occur."

Four years into her same-sex relationship, Ms Smith noticed a change in her partner.

"There were certain behaviours that were concerning like trying to be controlling, having issues with friends and being quite volatile verbally," she said.

"There was physical violence, for the most part it was kicking or punching or hitting arms and legs and near the kidney region.

""I was bailed up with a knife, which was absolutely terrifying — I realised that I needed to leave because if I didn't there was a high chance that I could end up dead."

Ms Smith thought about turning to police, but was not sure if they would believe her.

"I had a look on some police sites and did see a link to some DV police support officers, and they did have a symbol up to suggest they might be gay-friendly, which gave me some hope," she said.

"I still didn't follow through with that because I wasn't sure whether who I'd speak to would be gay or not.

"At the time because I wasn't out to everybody and because of how much embarrassment and shame you're already coping with, the thought of having to speak to someone homophobic was just too much."

LGBTI activists said Ms Smith's story was not unique.

Police, gay community have had 'chequered' history

Phil Browne from the Brisbane LGBTIQ Action Group said there were many reasons gay people did not come forward to report domestic violence.

"We're all aware that domestic violence is quite an issue within the general community but it can be more so within the LGBTI community and it is under-reported," Mr Browne said.

"Historically relations between LGBTI people and police have been quite chequered at times."

He said until 1991 gay sex acts were punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

"Under the Joh-Bjelke era there was a lot of damage done to LGBTI people and the relationship with the police service," he said.

"For example, we had many reports of the police special squad harassing clients going into gay pubs."

'Misconception of homophobia' by police

Police Senior Constable Ben Bjarnesen said officers were trying to build bridges with the LGBTI community.

Senior Constable Bjarnesen says officers want to build bridges with the LGBTI community. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Stevenson )

In 1998, the QPS introduced LGBTI liaison officers to offer support, and the program has expanded across the state.

"If a community member wants to report something we can be their first point of contact as that sort of person who they know is going to be trained in LGBTI issues," Senior Constable Bjarnesen said.

"They know that they're not going to be judged, or treated poorly or anything like that.

"There's a misconception of homophobia by police which can prevent people from coming and reporting."

He said there was also a fear of being outed for their sexuality or gender identity.

"If they report domestic violence to police then [they fear] somehow their family or friends or workplace will find out," he said

Senior Constable Bjarnesen said there was more work to do to raise awareness that anyone can be a victim of domestic violence.

"We need to look at portraying the different faces, ethnicities, genders and sexualities through these sorts of campaigns," he said.

"There's tens of thousands of victims of domestic violence who aren't being represented at the moment."

He said because some were not being seen in those sorts of campaigns, they were not necessarily identifying they could be a victim of abuse.

"It's seen to be a heterosexual female problem," he said.

"We need to start a conversation and get it happening between people their families, their friends, and get the understanding out there that it is a problem, it is happening and we all need to be aware it's there.

"Once we're aware, it's there we can better respond to the issue."