You make it sound like your boyfriend is a dove flying with a murder of crows
My experience has been that if someone is very different than a group...they don't remain a part of that group. You say that "they" trash talk other people. What do you think your boyfriend says to them when you are not present? Obviously at least one of them thought it was "alright" to physically hurt you. Someone trying that with my wife would be visiting the hospital or the morgue. And if you stay in a "serious" relationship with this guy- how are your children going to behave? Kids learn from the adult role models they are around. Is it "acceptable" to you for your children to behave like daddy's "friends"? To quote another "old saying"- You lie down with the dog; you wake up with the fleas.