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Thursday, October 17, 2013

AVP: Raising Awareness about Intimate Partner Violence

AVP NEWS
  • NCAVP Intimate Partner Violence Report Released
  • Courage Awards Thank You
  • Upcoming Programs and Events
Raising Awareness about Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) and all month long AVP is engaged in programs and activities that raise awareness of intimate partner violence (IPV) in our LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities.

On Monday, October 7th, AVP participated in two public events.  We joined the staff of the Crime Victims Treatment Center of St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital and the Westside Community for the 4th annual West Side Walk Against Domestic Violence.  We then walked to Times Square for Shine the Light on Domestic Violence, an event commemorating DVAM and raising awareness about IPV.  AVP was a co-sponsor of the event as part of the Manhattan Borough President's Office Domestic Violence Task Force.

AVP provides training and participates in event throughout the month of October in honor of DVAM, including to the Queens Borough President's Office on Working with LGBTQ Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence and will speak at the Staten Island Annual Domestic Violence Conference on Securing Financial Self-Sufficiency for Survivors of Domestic Violence.  AVP’s economic empowerment work was highlighted when we served a panel of experts presenting in a national webinar, Addressing Economic Needs and Overcoming Barriers for LGBTQ Survivors, hosted by Wider Opportunities for Women’s Economic Security for Survivors Project and the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. Click here to access a full recording of the webinar.

We will end the month with our own event here at AVP on October 24th from 6-8 pm titled  Real Talk: LGBTQ IPV Community Forum where we will address the topic of IPV in LGBTQ communities and review the findings of the recently released annual report on intimate partner violence in the LGBTQ communities in 2012.  Find out more and RSVP on Facebook today. 

Nationally we are eagerly awaiting the implementation of an explicitly LGBT-inclusive Violence Against Women Act and AVP's Executive Director, Sharon Stapel, was one of the contributors to thisletter to the community published in the Huffington Post.

NCAVP Intimate Partner Violence Report Released

On October 1, the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP)—a coalition coordinated by AVP—released its annual report on intimate partner violence in the LGBTQ communities in 2012.  Some of the more troubling findings in the national report include:

·         In 2012, NCAVP documented 21 intimate partner violence (IPV) homicides, the highest yearly total ever recorded by the coalition.
·         For the second year in a row, nearly half (47.6%) of IPV homicide victims were gay identified men.
·         For the second year in a row, people of color made up the majority (62.1%) of intimate partner violence survivors
·         The 2012 report found that transgender survivors were two times as likely to face threats/intimidation within violent relationships

Read the full report to learn more about the 2012 findings here.  

Courage Awards Thank You

We are so grateful to all of you who made the 2013 Courage Awards, which took place on September 26th at beautiful Studio 450, our best Courage Awards yet.

We are grateful to to host Maulik Pancholy for speaking from the heart about his long time dedication to our mission.

We are grateful to honoree Janet Mock who moved us to tears when she dedicated her award to her transgender sisters, saying "I dedicate this award to the women who have the audacity to live in a society that tells them they don't matter."

We are grateful to honoree Laverne Cox who inspired us with her deeply powerful words: "Trans people's lives matter, they deserve love, acceptance and belonging."

We are grateful to honoree Citi for their amazing depth of support for AVP’s work.

And we are so very grateful to all of our supporters and community members who were there with us - or supported us in spirit - for understanding that safety for each and every one of our LGBTQ community members is our right, our imperative, and nothing less than we will accept and achieve.

Check out some photos from the 2013 Courage Awards here and relive the wonderful night! 

Other Great Upcoming Programs and Events   

Along with the Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities mentioned above, AVP has other great programs, events and activities coming up this month.  Please consider joining us!

·         AVP’s Volunteer Orientation is Thursday, October 17th from 7pm to 9pm. RSVP, get to know us better, and get involved!
·         Sing out with AVP at FAB-Karaoke at the Stonewall Inn on Friday, October 18th, from 7pm to 10pm!  This monthly musical networking event is sponsored by FAB (Friends of AVP Board) and all funds raised go directly to AVP.  RSVP on Facebook today!
·         AVP is a co-sponsor of the Community Healthcare Network's (CHN) 3rd annual New York Transgender Health Conference on Friday, October 25th from 9am to 5pm at Pace University. Please click here to register.  Space is limited!

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