Direct service providers can now benefit from a national technical assistance number for help when working with LGBTQ survivors of violence.

Direct service and community-based organizations in the anti-violence field have struggled to provide culturally relevant and accessible services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) survivors.  Yesterday, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) announced the National Training and Technical Assistance Center is now available to provide technical assistance on issues such as: language and terminology, creating an LGBTQ-inclusive organization, developing LGBTQ-inclusive policies and procedures, and more.  Technical assistance is free and available by phone, instant messaging, and email.  The warmline is available in English and accessible to people that are Deaf or Hard of hearing.  See below for more details:

Toll-free technical assistance warmline: 1-855-AVP-LGBT

Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST    (1-855-287-5428)

Deaf/Hard of hearing accessible instant messaging AIM: AVPlgbt

Prefer e-mail?  Join NCAVP’s national technical assistance list serve. To join contact: info@ncavp.org

2010 marked the second highest reported number of hate crimes against LGBTQH communities

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Program (NCAVP) released its report Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Communities in the United States in 2010.  The report sheds light on how people of color and transgender individuals are disproportionately more likely to experience violence in light of the attempts and successes of extending civil rights across the United States and garnering public support at the international level.  The  NCAVP is comprised of 17 anti-violence programs in 15 states across the country including: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin.

The report provides recommendations to address the severe increase in violence against LGBTH communities (NCAVP, 2011):

• “Fund critically needed research and data collection on hate violence against LGBTQ and HIV affected communities, their access to services, and violence prevention initiatives.
• Gather data about sexual orientation and gender identity in all federal, state and local government forms.
• Create public and private funding streams and target the use of existing funds to increase access to anti-violence services for LGBTQ and HIV-affected individuals, particularly for transgender people and people of color who are disproportionately affected by hate violence.
• Create programs and campaigns to reduce anti-LGBTQ hate violence.
• Prioritize the leadership of those most impacted by severe hate violence within these programs.
• Stop the culture of hate through policymakers and public figures denouncing anti-LGBTQ violence.”

What are you doing in your community to end violence targeting individuals that self-identify or are perceived to be LGBTQ and HIV-affected people?

National Coalition of Anti-Violence Program

On October 26, 2010, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs released the Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence in the United States in 2009.

Key findings include:

• “Total reported cases are up in light of decrease in staff/organizational services available to provide services and report on the data;
• Reported incidents of LGBTQ domestic/intimate partner violence are increasingly deadly;
• Young adults make up 1/3 of reported cases
• Barriers to reporting and accessing services may have increased for undocumented immigrants;
• Reports to police are up, but so are reports of police misconduct and missarrest” (NCAVP 2010)

The report also provides recommendations to policy makers as well as to community organizations and service providers to make LGBTQ inclusive policies and organizational programming an integral part of the systems approach to combat violence.

Media Release for the Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence in the United States in 2009

Full Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence in the United States in 2009

During the 2010 National Sexual Assault Conference which took place in Hollywood, California on September 1-3,2010, there were more than 80 workshops.  The Leadership Development Track featured Leadership Roundtable Discussions.

The purpose of the Leadership Roundtable Discussions were to provide an opportunity for each participant affinity group to have an open, honest, and most of all safe space to discuss the issues of leadership from a personal community and organizational framework.  Each group was co-facilitated by a local sexual assault provider and / or a national technical assistance provider.

Leadership Roundtable: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Communities

Co-facilitators: Leona Smith – Peace Over Violence, Mercy Salazar – Anti-Violence Program of New York,  Janelle White – San Francisco Women Against Rape, and Alena Marie – Just Communities & CALCASA Dismantling Oppression Work Group (DOWG)

On July 13, 2010, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), the coalition of programs that document and advocate for victims of anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) and anti-HIV/AIDS violence/harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, police misconduct and other forms of victimization, released the 2010 report of hate violence perpetrated against people that self-identify as LGBTQ and were reported in 2009.

Key findings from the report include:

Murders at second-highest rate in a decade;

Spike in anti-LGBTQ violence at time of federal hate crimes law passage;

Economic crisis depletes resources for LGBTQ survivors of violence

For the full National Report on Anti-LGBTQ hate violence, click here.  To read the press release issued by the NCAVP, click here.

Resource

For individuals, groups, and/or communities interested in starting an anti-violence program, becoming a member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs or if you live in a region where there are no organizations addressing LGBTQ violence issues and you need help or are interested in getting involved, contact NCAVP at info@ncavp.org or 212.714.1184. They can also be reached via a 24 hour bilingual (English & Spanish) Hotline at 212.714.1141.

“Why It Matters: Rethinking Victim Assistance for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Victims of Hate Violence & Intimate Partner Violence” is a new report that is based on a 2009 survey of victim assistance providers and LGBTQ anti-violence programs throughout the United States.  Why It Matters, done by the National Center for Victims of Crime and the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, describes widespread gaps in victim services for LGBTQ victims of crime and recommends steps to improve the services and their accessibility.  For service providers working in the field of sexual violence, this report provides vital data and recommendations for improving service delivery.

To read the full report, click here.

November 20th marks the 11th International Transgender Day of Remembrance meant to honor those who have died due to anti-transgender violence. Today raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people and honors the work of those who continue the work toward full inclusion.  In a historic moment for civil and human rights in the United States, President Obama signed the hate crime bill into law on October 28, 2009.   The measure expands current hate crimes law to include violence based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

After signing the bill, President Obama made a few remarks and specifically addressed the law makers:

“You understood that we must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones, but to break spirits — not only to inflict harm, but to instill fear,” Mr. Obama said. “You understand that the rights afforded every citizen under our Constitution mean nothing if we do not protect those rights — both from unjust laws and violent acts.”

When addressing the needs and resources of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQQ) students, college and university campuses sometimes focus attention and resources exclusively towards students that identify as gay or lesbian, often ignoring those that identify as transgender.  Despite the dearth of research on violence in the transgender community, existing data demonstrates that transgendered people are at higher risk of experiencing abuse by the police and medical professionals, in addition to being subjected to street violence and domestic/intimate partner abuse.

One approach to having more transgender inclusive anti-sexual assault services is through education and awareness.  By developing amd sustaining meaningful, professional relationships with the staff and students at your campus LGBTQ center or the local LGBT center not only expands the staff’s skills and knowledge, but ultimately and most importantly, improves the delivery of services and outreach to transgender students whom often experience alienation and harassment.  By being more trans-inclusive, institutions take a necessary step towards creating a safer campus community for all.

For more information, please check out the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) for resources near you.

Domestic violence is heavily under-reported across the United States.  In an effort to illustrate the urgency in combating domestic violence, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) released its report on domestic violence within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities in the United States during 2008.

“The total number of cases reported to NCAVP members was 3,419.  Los Angeles, with increased monitoring capacity, reported close to 1,500 incidents. Major findings of the report reflected that the number of reported DV-related fatalities increased and the number of cases with reported police misconduct in 2008 increased by 93%. In 2008, incidents of police misconduct, reported by 2.3% of all callers to NCAVP organizations, nearly doubled compared to those reported in 2007.”

The increase in reports does not necessarily reflect an increase in violence.  Instead, when communities are informed of existing culturally-sensitive resources, individuals and communities are much more likely to report incidents and crimes to authorities.

In addition, the NCAVP also notes:

Other major findings of the 2008 report included increases in reports along many race and ethnicity categories, notably people identifying as Latina/o (100%), Multi-racial (91%), and African Descent (50%). Striking increases were seen in a relatively new category of immigration, especially people with recent visas (1700%), refugees and asylees (900%), and people who are undocumented (250%). Additionally, reports of domestic violence against people living with disabilities increased by almost 50%.

To read the full NCAVP 2008 report, click here.