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Charlottesville

August 16, 2017 by Ebony

Thirteen months ago, the Virginia Anti-Violence Project [VAVP] issued a statement articulating our organizational commitment to stand in solidarity with black and brown communities in the face of state sanctioned violence. Given the hyper-visible manifestations of white supremacy over the past weekend in Charlottesville, it is with deep feelings of pain, love for our communities, and fierceness that VAVP says, yet again, to our black and brown family, we see you, we support you, we are you, and VAVP will continue to fight for our lives.

As an organization whose mission is to address and prevent all forms of violence against Virginia’s diverse LGBTQ+ communities, the Virginia Anti-Violence Project understands, through both individual and organizational lived experiences, the adverse effects of violence and trauma on intersectionally oppressed communities. The broad LGBTQ+ community holds many diverse identities and the strategies that we use to individually address and end white supremacy will vary greatly. It is our moral imperative, however, to collectively work to identify and dismantle the individual, interpersonal, and institutional structures that were intentionally created to prop up white supremacy.

Racism impacts black and brown people’s access to, and experience of, education, employment, the economy, housing, and health and wellness. The systematic and disproportionate levels of education, employment, and economic discrimination; housing instability; and health disparities that communities of color experience are inextricably linked to greater risks of experiencing violence. To be clear, the nature of these identities do not make us more prone to violence, it’s the community and cultural conditions of white supremacy that lead to this increased risk. These realities are the reasons that intersectionality and racial justice are two of the primary organizational values that guide and direct the work of the Virginia Anti-Violence Project.
As always, VAVP will be holding space in community throughout August in various places. We are inviting LGBTQ+ identified folks that might be in need of emotional support to join us in community. This month, these spaces will be specifically staffed by LGBTQ+ identified people of color and we will be intentionally focussed on providing support related to being impacted by racialized violence. The upcoming August dates/spaces include:

Wednesday, August 16, 6:30pm – 8:30pm Youth [ages 14-20] of Color Support Group [collaboration with Side by Side, come at 6 p.m. if you have never been before]

Thursday, August 17, 12pm – 3pm, VAVP Pop-Up advocacy hours @ Diversity Richmond

Jueves 17 de agosto, de 7pm a 8:30pm, busca la casita junto a la piscina en la esquina de Clarkson Rd & Southwood Parkway

Monday, August 21, 6pm – 8pm, VAVP Pop-Up advocacy hours @ Nationz Foundation

Tuesday, August 22, 3:30pm – 6:30pm, VAVP Pop-Up advocacy hours @ Side by Side

Monday, August 28, 6pm – 9pm, SONG/VAVP Black August Bail Out: Care Package & Art Party, The Comm Room

VAVP offers services to LGBTQ+ individuals that have been impacted by intimate partner abuse, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as hate/bias motivated harassment and violence. VAVP also has resources to support training and consultation with agencies, community groups, congregations, and other interested organizations. For more information on the Virginia Anti-Violence Project, email info@virginiaavp.org or call 804-925-9242. If you are LGBTQ+-identified and you have been impacted by violence, you can also call the 24-hour, toll-free, confidential Virginia LGBTQ+ Helpline at 1-866-356-6998.

Ebony Morgan

July 3, 2017 by Ebony

On July 2nd, the Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) learned that 28-year-old Lynchburg, VA, resident Ebony Morgan was found dead on Rivermont Ave in the city. Ebony, who identified as a transgender woman of color, was shot and died early Sunday morning at Lynchburg General Hospital. The Virginia Anti-Violence Project would like to express its sincerest condolences to Ebony’s family, friends, and community. VAVP is deeply saddened to hear of another homicide of someone who identifies within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities.

Zakia McKensey, Transgender Community Advocate at VAVP and the Founder/Executive Director of Nationz Foundation, said, “These murders of transgender women of color is senseless and needs to stop. We are people just like everyone else with the same wants and desires and we deserve respect, acceptance, understanding, and inclusiveness. Prayers go out to Ebony’s family and loved ones.” Andi Miller of the Lynchburg Diversity Center added, “Losing another trans woman of color to violence is disturbing. Having lost a member of the Lynchburg community sheds a light on the need to address transphobia, homophobia, and racism. Discrimination often leaves trans women of color without jobs and living in dangerous situations. This is a difficult time for the LGBTQ+ community of Lynchburg and we are offering support and comfort to those in need. Our deepest condolences go out to Ebony’s family and friends.”

While there is still an active investigation happening into the shooting of Ebony Morgan, perceived and actual gender identity and race often play a role in escalating violence against LGBTQ+-identified individuals. VAVP hopes that throughout the investigative process, the media, police, and the public at-large, will respect Ebony’s identity and maintain a level of decorum and understanding when interacting with her family and other individuals who identify within transgender and non-conforming communities. VAVP will continue to stand in solidarity with the family and community of Ebony and other LGBTQ+ individuals that have been impacted by violence.

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Project’s (NCAVP) most recent hate violence report, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Hate Violence in 2016, recorded 77 total hate violence related homicides of LGBTQ and HIV-affected people in 2016, including the 49 mostly LGBTQ and Latinx lives lost in the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida in June of 2016. Outside of those lives lost during the shooting at Pulse Nightclub, there were 28 homicides of LGBTQ people, an increase of 17% from 24 in 2015. Of the 28 reported non-Pulse hate violence homicides, 79% were people of color, 19 were transgender and gender non-conforming people, and 17 were transgender women of color.

VAVP’s community partners, the Lynchburg Transgender Alliance and the Lynchburg Diversity Center, are hosting a community meeting that had been pre-scheduled for Wednesday, July 5th, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. at 901 Jefferson street, Suite 201, Lynchburg, VA. This meeting will be an opportunity for community members to gather together to honor the life of Ebony and discuss the impact of her loss on community. VAVP advocates will be available before and during the meeting, in-person, to provide information and support.

The Virginia Anti-Violence Project works to address and prevent violence within and against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities across Virginia. VAVP offers services for survivors of intimate partner abuse, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as hate/bias motivated harassment and violence. VAVP also has resources to support training and consultation with agencies, community groups, congregations, and other interested organizations. For more information on the Virginia Anti-Violence Project, visit virginiaavp.org, email director@virginiaavp.org, or call (804) 925-9242.

If you are LGBTQ+-identified and you have been impacted by violence, you can contact the Virginia LGBTQ Partner Abuse and Sexual Assault Helpline via text at (804) 793-9999 or by phone at 1-866-356-6998.

Bruce Garnett

May 10, 2017 by Ebony

The Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) has learned that 67-year-old Chesterfield, VA resident, Bruce Garnett, was found stabbed to death in his home on April 21st, 2017. Bruce, a gay man and early advocate in Virginia for gay rights, had been dead for several weeks when he was found by the Chesterfield Police. The Virginia Anti-Violence Project would like to express its sincere condolences to Bruce’s family, friends, and community. VAVP is deeply saddened to hear of another homicide of someone who identifies within a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community in Virginia.

‘Older adults, specifically LGBTQ+ older adults, are particularly vulnerable to both isolation and abuse/violence. All of VAVP’s services are welcoming and accessible to LGBTQ+ adults over 50. This includes our individual/group support and advocacy services, relationship skills classes, wellness events, and survivor retreats. VAVP is also available to provide training to providers of aging services to deepen their organizational capacity to provide affirming and welcoming services to LGBTQ+ older adults’, says Stacie Vecchietti, Virginia Anti-Violence Project Director.

VAVP’s national colleagues at SAGE (Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders) say, ‘The primary risk factors for social isolation affect LGBT older adults in unique and disproportionate ways. For example, one primary risk factor is living alone. LGBT older people are twice as likely to live alone, twice as likely to be single, and 3 to 4 times less likely to have children—and many are estranged from their biological families.’

NCAVP Denounces The Trump Administration’s Lack of Support for Transgender Students

February 24, 2017 by Ebony

NCAVP Media Contact: Sue Yacka (212) 714-1184; syacka@avp.org

NCAVP denounces the Trump administration’s lack of support for transgender students

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), which is made up of over 50 lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocacy groups across the country, denounces the Trump administration’s recent announcement to rescind protections put in place by the Obama administration for transgender students that had allowed them to use facilities, including bathrooms which correspond with their gender identity. This announcement sends a clear message that the Trump administration will not protect the rights of LGBTQ people, particularly LGBTQ youth. LGBTQ youth, especially transgender youth, experience bullying and violence from their peers for their gender identity and expression and higher than average rates of homelessness as a result of family rejection. The actions of this administration only serve to increase these risks.

“Eradicating equal access guidance is tantamount to the violence of rejection and isolation. LGBTQ youth who felt supported and included in their schools were able to personally affirm their gender identity and/or sexual orientation; however, they are now faced with a crushing reality of being forced to endure federal discrimination, increased isolation, ridicule, and bullying,” said Aaron Eckhardt, Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO) in Ohio. “Simply put LGBTQ youth, especially transgender youth, are being told by the Trump administration that they don’t deserve equal access and equal protection in school despite the fact they are legally required to be in attendance.”

We must understand this action as an attack of LGBTQ civil rights and one that will put all LGBTQ survivors at greater risk for violence, especially transgender students. Any claims that protections for transgender students are a threat to public safety and privacy must be resoundingly rejected. In May of 2016, NCAVP joined hundreds of organizations across the country to stand against HB2 in North Carolina. At that time more than 300 domestic and sexual violence organization signed onto a statement by the National Task Force to End Sexual Domestic Violence condemning these type of anti-trans initiatives, and noting that: “Those who are pushing these proposals have claimed that [they] are necessary for public safety and to prevent sexual violence against women and children. As rape crisis centers, shelters, and other service providers who work each and every day to meet the needs of all survivors and reduce sexual assault and domestic violence throughout society, we speak from experience and expertise when we state that these claims are false.” We do the same today to ensure the rights of transgender students remain a priority throughout our country.

“In recent years so many people have become aware of the diverse needs of students so that all students have the opportunity to succeed academically,” said J Zirbel, at Rainbow Community Cares in North Carolina. “Addressing the needs of transgender students is an important part of that larger effort to promote the health and well-being of our communities and our country.”

It should be noted that regardless of the Trump administration’s most recent announcement, the law remains on transgender students’ side and school districts across the country are still legally obligated to comply with Title IX and protect transgender students.

“While the Trump administration has made it clear that they will not protect the rights of the LGBTQ community, particularly LGBTQ youth, we must make it equally clear that such actions will not be tolerated, ” Said Shelby Chestnut at the New York City Anti-Violence Project. “NCAVP remains committed in solidarity against this and other attacks on our communities, from transgender students to undocumented survivors and Muslim refugees, our voice and outrage over this administration’s actions will not be silenced in the wake of this onslaught of hate.”
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NCAVP works to prevent, respond to, and end all forms of violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and HIV-affected communities. NCAVP is a national coalition of local member programs and affiliate organizations who create systemic and social change. NCAVP is a program of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.

Statement on Detainment of Trans Survivor of IPV in El Paso

February 21, 2017 by Ebony

FEBRUARY 16, 2017 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCAVP Media Contact: Sue Yacka (212) 714-1184; syacka@avp.org

Transgender Law Center contact: Jill Marcellus (510) 587.9695; jill@transgenderlawcenter.org

National LGBTQ organizations denounce the arrest of a transgender survivor of domestic violence by ICE officers in El Paso, Texas.

NATIONAL – The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs and Transgender Law Center denounce the arrest by immigration authorities of an undocumented transgender woman who is a survivor of domestic violence, and call for her immediate release. She was detained last week in an El Paso, Texas courthouse immediately after she was granted a protective order against her abusive partner.

NCAVP’s data shows that transgender women experience high rates of domestic violence and often experience discrimination and violence when attempting to access services. Additionally, transgender women in immigration detention often experience sexual violence, maltreatment, and other forms of violence. Because of these realities, this arrest and detainment is an utterly deplorable and harmful response to her request for help.

This January, Transgender Law Center launched an emergency response project, the Trans Immigrant Defense Effort (TIDE), devoted to expanding legal support for transgender immigrants in the face of new attacks.

“Our government’s actions send the message to transgender people that we are disposable and do not deserve dignity or safety,” said Isa Noyola, Director of Programs at Transgender Law Center. “The community already has limited access to resources when we face violent attacks, particularly by intimate partners. At a time when we grieve murder after murder of transgender women of color, it is unconscionable that a transgender woman would be detained and punished for seeking safety for herself. The community, now more than ever, needs to organize to protect our most vulnerable, in particular transgender immigrant women who are surrounded by violence on a daily basis.”

“Arresting survivors when they are accessing domestic violence protections will only continue to discourage survivors from reaching out for support, especially if they are undocumented,” said Emily Waters, Senior Manager of National Research and Policy at the New York City Anti-Violence Project. “All survivors, including undocumented transgender survivors, deserve to be able access safe and affirming resources without the additional fear of reprisal by abusive partners and criminalization by state authorities.”

Violation of Protections for Undocumented Survivors

According to the County Attorney, Jo Anne Bernal, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers received a tip that the woman who was detained would be in the courthouse that day. Bernal also stated that she was arrested while still in the courthouse. Bernal suspects that the tip came from Gonzalez’s abusive partner. Both of these actions by ICE violate the confidentiality protections laid out in the Violence Against Women Act of 2005. VAWA provides explicit confidentiality protections for undocumented survivors, including preventing immigration officers from using information provided by abusive partners and preventing officers from making arrests in courthouses if the survivor is there in connection with a protection order case.

“The actions taken by ICE officials to detain a transgender immigrant while she was at the courthouse getting a restraining order against her abuser, based on a “tip” to ICE possibly from her abuser, are not only outrageous, they violate the law,” said Terra Russell Slavin, Esq., Deputy Director of Policy & Community Building at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. “The Violence Against Women Act contains specific prohibitions on these type of immigration enforcement actions. The LGBT community, its advocates, and domestic violence activists throughout the country will work tirelessly to ensure that immigrant survivors of domestic violence are able to take legal actions to protect themselves from their abusers. We call on our representatives to immediately investigate the actions of ICE officials in this case and to do everything in their power to ensure this travesty doesn’t happen again.”

VAWA protections are vital for the safety of undocumented survivors of domestic violence. Many undocumented survivors face the threat of deportation when accessing protections that are available to all survivors of domestic violence and this threat is often leveraged by abusive partners.

Domestic Violence and LGBTQ Communities

According to the most recently released report by NCAVP, of the 13 documented intimate partner violence related homicides of LGBTQ people in 2015, 46% were transgender women, all of whom were transgender women of color.
From 2014 to 2015, there was an increase in the percentage of LGBTQ undocumented survivors reporting to NCAVP from 4% to 9%.
Many LGBTQ survivors experience violence and discrimination when accessing intimate partner violence resources. Of those seeking shelter in 2015, 44% were denied with the most common reason being gender identity. Nearly one in three survivors who interacted by police were arrested.

Read NCAVP’s toolkit for the LGBTQ and HIV Affected Intimate Partner Violence here: http://avp.org/storage/ documents/2015_ncavp_ipv_ toolkit_logo.pdf.

National Resources immigration and LGBTQ Domestic Violence Services

* List of NCAVP Member Programs: http://avp.org/about-avp/ national-coalition-of-anti-
violenceprograms/423

* Immigration Equality: Legal national emergency hotline- 212-714-2904 http://www.immigrationequality.org/

* Transgender Law Center: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/

* United We Dream national hotline to report ICE activity or raids: 1-844-363-1423 or Know your rights Immigration Resources (Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and English): http://unitedwedream.org/ thank-deportation-defense- card-handy-phone/

Local Immigration Resources

* Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA) (Los Angeles) -888-6CHIRLA

* CASA Raid Responses (MD, Northern VA, PA): 301-431-4185

* Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (Chicago): 855-435-7693

* Immigrant Defense Project (New York): 212-725-6422

* New Jersey Rapid Response Hotline- 1 (800) 308-0878

* Long Island Dream Act Coalition: 516-387-2043

* New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia: 267-333-9530 (Spanish), 267-345-5248

(Indonesian)

* Community Defense Line (Travis County, Texas): 512-270-1515

* Georgia Latino Alliance For Human Rights (Atlanta): 770-454-5232

* Asian American Advancing Justice (Atlanta): 404-890-5655

* Southern Poverty Law Center: 800-591-3656

* San Juan County Immigrant Protection Group: 360-376-7101, 206-365-2225

* Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition- 1-888-622-1510

*Houston hotline to report raids- 713-862-8222.

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National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs works to prevent, respond to, and end all forms of violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), and HIV-affected communities. NCAVP is a national coalition of 53 local member programs and affiliate organizations in 25 states, Canada, and Washington DC, who create systemic and social change. We strive to increase power, safety, and resources through data analysis, policy
advocacy, education, and technical assistance. NCAVP is coordinated by the New York City Anti-Violence Project. Transgender Law Center is the largest national organization dedicated to advancing the rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people through litigation, policy advocacy, and public education. TLC changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. www.transgenderlawcenter.org

India Monroe

January 9, 2017 by Ebony

The Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) has learned that 29-year-old Newport News, VA, resident India Monroe was killed in a private residence in Newport News on Wednesday, December 21st. India identified as a black transgender woman, but was misgendered in initial local media coverage of the homicide. At this point, India’s murder is being investigated as a ‘domestic incident’, not as a hate crime. The Virginia Anti-Violence Project would like to express its sincere condolences to India’s family, friends, and community. VAVP is deeply saddened to hear of another homicide of someone who identifies within a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community in Virginia.

“VAVP has responded to three reports of homicides in Virginia in the past two months; two of the individuals killed have been trans women of color and all three have been women of color. VAVP is working hard in community to support folks that are impacted by violence, while also continuing to work to prevent this type of violence from happening in the first place.” Said Stacie Vecchietti, Director at Virginia Anti Violence Project, “Part of that work, in a larger context, is actively working against anti-trans legislation, such as the ‘Physical Privacy Act’ that was introduced by Delegate Bob Marshall on January 3rd in the Virginia General Assembly. Legislation like HB1612 reinforces the hate and fear that breeds violence against queer and transgender people in Virginia.”

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs’ (NCAVP) 2015 Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) was released in October of 2016 and documented 1,976 survivors of intimate partner violence from 17 local NCAVP member organizations in 14 states. In 2015, people of color made up 10 (77%) of the 13 reports of LGBTQ and HIV-affected IPV homicides. Of the 13 homicides, six victims were transgender women, four were cisgender men, and three were cisgender women. All six of the transgender women homicide victims were transgender women of color, including four who were black and two who were Latinx. The homicide of India Monroe was the 24th reported killing of a transgender/gender non-conforming person NCAVP responded to in 2016

While there is still an active investigation happening into the shooting of India Monroe, we absolutely do know that perceived and actual gender identity and race often play a role in escalating violence against LGBTQ+-identified individuals. VAVP hopes that as the investigative process unfolds, the media, police, and the public at-large, will respect India’s identity and maintain a level of decorum and understanding when interacting with her family and other individuals who identify within transgender and non-conforming communities. VAVP will continue to stand in solidarity with the family and community of India and other LGBTQ+ individuals that have been impacted by violence.

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