Our Blog

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

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.

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.

On November 6th, the Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) learned that 30-year-old Richmond, VA, resident Noony Norwood was killed on the southside of Richmond. Noony, who identified as a transgender woman of color, was shot on Saturday, November 5th and died the next morning. The Virginia Anti-Violence Project would like to express its sincerest condolences to Noony’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.

‘Noony’s energy always brightened the room. She cared about her community and always lifted up and supported her friends and family’, said Zakia McKensey, Founder and Executive Director of Nationz Foundation and long-time friend of Noony’s. Stacie Vecchietti, Director of the Virginia Anti-Violence Project, added, ‘We have lost yet another beloved member of our community to violence. This is a deeply painful and personal loss for many. It is also a reflection of the painful realities of transphobia, homophobia, biphobia, and racism that permeate our everyday environments and relationships and results in LGBTQ+ individuals of color being disproportionately impacted by violence’.

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs’ (NCAVP) 2015 report on Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Communities was released in June of 2016 and documented 1,253 incidents of hate violence against LGBTQ and HIV-affected people from 13 local NCAVP member organizations in 11 states. The homicide of Noony Norwood is the 23rd reported killing of a transgender/gender non-conforming person NCAVP has responded to in 2016. Continuing an alarming multi-year trend, people of color and transgender and gender non-conforming people continue to make up the majority of victims of hate violence.

While there is still an active investigation happening into the shooting of Noony Norwood, 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 throughout the investigative process, the media, police, and the public at-large, will respect Noony’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 Noony and other LGBTQ+ individuals that have been impacted by violence.

VAVP’s community partner, Nationz Foundation, offers a weekly support group for trans women, TGURLZ ROCK, on Thursday evenings in their office at 1200 Bentley St. Richmond, VA 23227. The group is open to anyone that identifies as a trans woman and provides a welcoming space for members to support each other and celebrate their identities. To get connected to Nationz Foundation, please call (804) 716-7597.

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.

The Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) has learned that 26-year-old Henrico, VA resident, Ava Latae Tucker, was killed in her home on Friday, October 28th, 2016. Ava’s ex-girlfriend has been arrested for the fatal stabbing.

The Virginia Anti-Violence Project would like to express its sincere condolences to Ava’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. ‘Often, patterns of abuse and violence that are felt in intimate relationships are so hard to name and talk about, particularly in the small, interconnected circles of our diverse LGBTQ family. VAVP is here to provide information, support, and advocacy to LGBTQ Virginians that are fearful and worried about what’s going in their relationships’, says Stacie Vecchietti, Virginia Anti-Violence Project Director.

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs’ (NCAVP) October 2015 Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) documented 1,976 survivors of IPV who reported to 17 NCAVP member organizations from 14 states across the country, including Virginia. People of color made up 77% of the reports of LGBTQ and HIV-affected IPV homicides, and 54% of the total number of survivors who reported to NCAVP members in 2015. Of the 13 IPV-related 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.

VAVP hopes that throughout the investigative process, the media, police, and the public at-large, will respect Ava’s identity and maintain a level of decorum and understanding when interacting with Ava’s family and other individuals who identify within diverse LGBTQ+ communities. VAVP will continue to stand in strong solidarity with the family of Ava Latae Tucker and other LGBTQ individuals that have been impacted by violence.

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 <b>Virginia Anti-Violence Project</b> , visit www.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.

VAVP joins Casa Ruby, Girls United, and NCAVP in mourning the homicide of Crystal Edmonds, a transgender women of color killed in Baltimore, Maryland, on Friday, September 16th. This is the 20th reported killing of a transgender/gender non-conforming person NCAVP has responded to in 2016.

The Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) stands in solidarity with the Black and Brown communities affected by the recent state-sanctioned violence in Louisiana and Minnesota.

VAVP wants individuals and communities of color in Virginia and across this country, who are systematically harassed, marginalized, and disproportionately the victims of violence at the hands of the state, to understand that we see you, we support you, and we will continue to fight on your behalf. To document and illustrate this reality, in 2015, The Washington Post conducted a yearlong study of fatal shootings by police officers, a project prompted by the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Although the majority of victims brandishing a weapon were white, the study found that 3 out of 5 victims “exhibiting less threatening behavior were black or Hispanic,” which means that police officers are more likely to use their service weapons against unarmed individuals of color than whites.

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 first-hand the adverse effects of violence and trauma on historically oppressed and marginalized communities. Over the last year, VAVP has intentionally worked to center communities of color within our anti-violence framework by meeting individuals in spaces where they need us the most. We are committed to continuing this work and to being intentionally and intersectionally visible for those individuals and communities that continue to be systematically dehumanized.

The recent acts of violence in Louisiana and Minnesota continue to express to Black and Brown communities that their existence is irrelevant in the face of state-sanctioned power. The hollow rhetoric that continually calls for marginalized communities to comply, submit, and show respect to authority is a tone-deaf response toward a people whose survival is punished by the regular, systematic dehumanization and unbridled reality of state-sanctioned violence. It is not the responsibility of the oppressed to explain their right to freedom, their right to life, or their right to exist.

Specifically, VAVP is calling on those who identify as allies of these communities to join us in holding public service officials/systems and law enforcement agencies accountable to change public policy, including, but not limited to: rigorous and sustained training for law enforcement on implicit bias, procedural justice, relationship-based policing, and de-escalation; a meaningful commitment to civilian community oversight; specific restrictions in the use of force; and the ending of a decades-long focus on policing minor crimes and activities that has led to the over-policing and criminalization of communities of color and the use of excessive force in otherwise harmless situations.

It is no longer enough for organizational allies to say that Black Lives Matter, without actively working to center individuals and communities of color in their leadership, programming, and advocacy. Choosing to remain silent in the face of xenophobia, Islamophobia, and racist rhetoric and violence against Black and Brown communities has long proved to be deadly. If you are currently residing in the United States, there is no more appropriate time than now to reflect upon the words of James Baldwin and “criticize it perpetually.”

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 director@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.