New York –
Monday night, the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (the Anti-Violence Project) held its eighth annual Courage Awards at the spectacular Gotham Hall in Midtown Manhattan. Each year the Anti-Violence Project selects outstanding individuals, community-based organizations and companies who deserve special recognition for their leadership, “courage,” and service on behalf of the City's lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and HIV-affected communities, and particularly on behalf of victims of violence.
This year's honorees were Bravo, the broadcasting giant , San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom , Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, an international law firm , NYPD Officer Sally Osborn, a specially-trained Domestic Violence Police Officer , and George C. Wolfe, the world-renowned producer of New York's Public Theater .
In addition to the honorees, special guests and presenters included WABC-TV's Sam Champion , Frank DeCaro from Sirius Radio , as well as groundbreaking singer, actor and comedian, Lea DeLaria . Five hundred supporters attended last night's event, which raised $300,000 for the Anti-Violence Project, making it the largest and most successful fundraiser in the 24-year old organization's history.
Though the crowd was clearly pleased to pledge its ongoing support for the Anti-Violence Project, and honor the work of this year's awardees, a theme that ran through the evening's program was the growing concern within and outside local LGTB communities and those around the nation that the current cultural and political environment has been detrimental to the safety of LGTB communities, and that given the results of and follow-up reactions to last Tuesday's election, that environment is likely to worsen.
"Right now we 're all undoubtedly focused on the challenges and uncertainties we face in the next four years," said Richard Haymes, the Anti-Violence Project's Executive Director. Haymes continued, " i f AVP's 24-year history of confronting violence is any indication, we can accurately forecast that our community will definitely come under increased attack—both rhetorically from bully pulpits and physically from bashers. But, as always, AVP is prepared to meet the challenge as demand for our victim services grows and as the backlash commences in earnest."
Haymes and others noted that since 2001, reports of anti-LGTB violence in the New York region have risen 17%, and that while such violence rose 26% nationally after the US Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas and the Presidential push for an amendment to the US Constitution banning same-sex marriage, the rise was a precedent-setting 43% in New York.
Haymes went on to note that while the Anti-Violence Project is best known for its direct services and support to victims of violence, its commitment to community education and prevention has never been stronger or more necessary. " Half of AVP's resources go towards outreach and education. In fact, w e spend a good part of every year, training the NYPD, DA's offices, health and human service providers, and major corporations on how to make things safer for our community," said Haymes.
Photos from the event are available upon request.
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 nearly twenty-five years, AVP has provided counseling and advocacy for thousands of victims of bias-motivated violence as well as for survivors of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, HIV-related violence, and police misconduct. AVP documents incidents of violence against and within LGTB communities, educates the public about the effects of 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).
