Recent Hate Violence Incidents in NYC /A Call to Action

• Recent Hate Violence Incidents in NYC
• A Call to Action
• Community Heroes Awards
• Join us for FUSION

Recent LGBTQ hate violence incidents in NYC

AVP has been working with community members, community partners like GLAAD and Queer Rising, the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to address four disturbing incidents of hate violence that occurred last week.

On Sunday May 5^th, near Madison Square Garden on 8^th Avenue, between 34^th and 35^th Street, Nick Porto and Kevin Atkins were assaulted by four men shouting anti-gay slurs.  On Tuesday May 7^th in Union Square, performer Qween Amor was publically assaulted by an individual who used anti-gay slurs.  Then on Wednesday May 8^th, a man was exiting Pieces Bar on Christopher Street in the West Village when he was attacked by two men shouting anti-gay slurs.  And on Friday, May 9^th, two gay men were attacked near the 33^rd Street PATH Station in Manhattan.  AVP's Deputy Director of Community Organizing and Public Advocacy, Ejeris Dixon, denounced this rash of incidents, with all of the major New York News outlets including CBS 2 News and WABC 7 News.

So what can we do? A call to action!

Join us this Thursday night, May 16^th at 7pm, as AVP supports Queer Rising’s Rally and March: Queers Take Back the Night in response to these attacks.  AVP will be speaking about safety for our LGBTQ communities at the rally, and will be distributing our safety information.  Meet us outside of Madison Square Garden, on corner of 7th Avenue and 33rd Street, as we support community-based efforts to address this violence.  After the rally, we will march through Chelsea, south along 8th Avenue, and ending at Horatio Street/Jackson Square Park.

And starting next week on Friday, May 24^th and continuing throughout Pride month, AVP will also be out on the streets doing Friday Safety Nights outreach in the affected neighborhoods to raise awareness and provide people with information and safety tips.  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.  To join us for any of these events or activities, contact Tasha Amezcua at tamezcua@avp.org, or watch for event announcements on our Facebook page.  

HBO Sponsors AVP’s Community Heroes Awards
 
Last night, May 14^th, AVP held our first ever Community Heroes Awards sponsored by HBO.  In light of recent violence, it seemed more appropriate than 
ever to thank the community partners whose tremendous behind the scenes support of AVP moves AVP’s LGBTQ anti-violence work forward throughout New York City.  AVP is so grateful to HBO and to our 2013 community heroes whose support makes our life-changing, life-saving work possible each day.

At the event, we honored Stacey Lentz of the Stonewall Inn, who has supported AVP and so many LGBTQ causes both locally and nationally; the watsons, who elevate brands that make a positive difference in the world around them, and who have helped AVP get our message of LGBTQ rights and safety out to the world with their brilliant, beautiful style; White & Case, a global law firm and one of the largest providers of pro bono legal services in the world, who provide essential legal services that help AVP help our LGBTQ community members; and Robert Lopez, a dedicated AVP volunteer who works on our Pride and Real Talks Community Action Committees, and who recently completed the Hotline Training Course becoming a NYS Certified Rape Crisis Counselor and volunteers to take calls on AVP’s 24-Hour Hotline.

Check out some photos from last night's event on AVP's Facebook page.





Join us for FUSION!  AVP’s annual PRIDE Party

Join AVP for FUSION at XL Nightclub on June 26th from 6pm to 9pm!

Full open bar featuring Brooklyn Brewery and GuS Grown-up Soda; and snacks by PopChips.

FUSION is sponsored by BLiNQ Media, Go Magazine, JetBlue, Kaye Scholer and Macy’s Inc. DJ Randy Bettis will start spinning at 6:00 pm for everyone excited to kick off Pride in NYC.  We’ll also have a raffle for a chance to win two round trip JetBlue tickets anywhere JetBlue flies!

Find out more and purchase FUSION and raffle tickets here!


 

Other Great Upcoming Programs and Events 

·         Join AVP and GMHC this Thursday, May 16th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm,for On Your Radar! A Community Discussion about Staying Safe with Online Dating, Hook-up Apps and Sites.  This panel discussion will feature AVP's Coordinator of Hate Violence and Sexual Violence Programs, Jarad Ringer.  Find out more and join us.

·         AVP’s Volunteer Orientation is Thursday, May 16th 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, May 17th, from 6pm 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’s Real Talks is on Tuesday, May 21st from 7pm to 9pm. Join our Real Talks Committee, which focuses on increasing awareness about LGBTQH intimate partner/domestic violence, and building campaigns on related issues.  Find out more here.

·         We at AVP commit to a presence at nearly every Pride event in all five boroughs, but we can't do this critical work without YOU, our volunteers!  Join us on Monday, May 27th from 7pm to 9pm for our next AVP Pride Committee Meeting.  Help us make this a fun and safe PRIDE month in NYC!

·         Join AVP on Thursday, May 23rd from 7pm to 9pm as we celebrate our graduating class of Speakers Bureau participants.  The AVP Speaker's Bureau is a workshop space for LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of violence to connect, share, and heal.  Participants focused on safety planning for public speaking, engaging with media, and connecting our stories to action.  Join us as we celebrate their graduation!  For more info, contact Tasha Amezcua at tamezcua@avp.org or 212-714-1184, ext. 19.

·         Find out more about AVP's B.R.E.A.T.H.E. Support Group for LGBTQ Survivors of Sexual Violence which begins on June 4.  Participants must attend an intake session by June 3 prior to admittance into the group.