#AVP investigating reports of another anti-gay hate violence attack

May 26, 2013

AVP investigating reports of another anti-gay hate violence attack in New York City, the ninth in May; calls for community members to join us on May 31 for Friday Safety Night and on June 6 for Community Wellness/Speak Out

The New York City Anti-Violence Project is investigating reports of a ninth incident of anti-gay violence to occur in New York City this month. The latest incident is being reported on the New Civil Rights Movement Blog, after going viral on Facebook on Saturday. LGBTQ activist Eugene Lovendusky, a member of the group Queer Rising, which has been an integral part of the response to recent bias attacks, reports that he was attacked himself on Friday night, May 24th in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. A close friend reported that Lovendusky had been attacked by a group of 9 to 10 men who shouted anti-gay slurs and punched him in the jaw.

AVP is reaching out to Queer Rising, GLAAD and other community partners, as well as New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the Hate Crimes Task Force of the NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office to further investigate this assault.  AVP has received information that arrests have been made .  

In light of recent anti-LGBT violence, AVP is also holding Community Safety Nights each Friday throughout Pride month. During Friday Community Safety Nights, AVP will be out on the streets doing outreach in neighborhoods recently affected by violence to raise awareness and provide people with information and safety tips.  You can help.  We will need dedicated volunteers and concerned community members to get out there and join us as we bring our message of safety to the streets.  Join us on May 31st and every Friday through June at 6 p.m. at AVP’s offices for a brief Safety Training then we will head out to do outreach together!  TO JOIN US: Contact Tasha Amezcua at tamezcua@avp.org or watch for event announcements on our Facebook page.

In response to the impact this string of violent incidents has had on our community, AVP is joining with the LGBT Community Center and others for a Community Speak Out & Wellness Night.  AVP and The Center are bringing our communities together to talk about how people are feeling and to offer support to anyone who needs it on June 6, 2013, 5:00 - 8:30 pm, The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., NY, NY, 10011.  Join community members for: support & counseling, resources, speak outs about safety, ways to get involved and take action.  This is a FREE event – food and Metro Cards will be provided.  ASL and tactile interpreters, Spanish interpreters, and Spanish speaking counselors available.

REPORTING VIOLENCE HELPS END VIOLENCE:
AVP encourages you to report violence you experience or witness to our free and confidential 24-hour bilingual (English/Spanish) hotline at 212-714-1141 where you can speak with a trained counselor and seek support, or you can report violence anonymously online.

Find out more about AVP at our website, www.avp.org, get regular updates on our ongoing work on Facebook.com/antiviolence or Twitter @antiviolence, and get involved and make a difference.