For Immediate Release October 22, 2002
AVP TO HOLD SIXTH ANNUAL COURAGE AWARDS
New York – On Monday, October 28, 2002, the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project will host its sixth annual Courage Awards at Bridgewaters at the South Street Seaport. Each year the Anti-Violence Project selects outstanding individuals, philanthropies and companies who deserve special recognition for their leadership, "courage," and service on behalf of the City's lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and HIV-positive communities, and particularly on behalf of victims of hate violence and same-sex domestic violence. The Courage Awards event is AVP's largest fundraiser, and to-date has raised over $1,000,000 for the agency.
This year's honorees include Emil Wilbekin, the out and culturally-influential Editor-In-Chief of Vibe Magazine; Home Box Office for its gay-positive programming; long-time community leader and activist Matt Foreman, who is the former, and now current acting executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, Surina Khan, executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, and Bruce Kogan, the LGTB community's only gay-identified advocate on the New York State Crime Victims Board for over twenty years.
The evening will include a cocktail reception, a gala dinner for about 550 attendees, and a program hosted by WABC's Sam Champion and Frank De Caro, the fabulously funny movie critic from Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." The program will feature the awards presentations and a performance by Broadway's Karen Mason. Ticket prices start at $250, with sponsorships beginning at $3,500.
Funds raised from the Courage Awards support AVP's crucial programs and services addressing bias-related, domestic and other forms of violence experienced by lesbians, gay men, transgender and bisexual people in the City. More information on the Courage Awards can be found on AVP's website: www.avp.org.
The New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) is the nation's largest service agency for victims of bias crimes against the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected communities. For twenty-two years, AVP has provided counseling and advocacy for thousands of victims of bias-motivated violence as well as for survivors of pick-up crimes, domestic violence, sexual assault, HIV-related violence, and police misconduct. AVP documents incidents of bias-motivated violence, educates the public about violence against or within our communities, and works to reform public policies impacting all lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected people. AVP provides free and confidential assistance to crime victims through our 24-hour bilingual hotline (212-714-1141).
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