The New York City Anti-Violence Project is proud to launch its Pride 2023 campaign, “All Places Safe Spaces,” a nationwide initiative to engage LGBTQ+ communities to help them make their spaces safer from the growing threats of harm we face.
This important work continues and expands upon our 2022 campaign and our longstanding legacy of working to support LGBTQ+ people who experience violence, giving new opportunities for learning and coalition-building to help us defend ourselves and our spaces while uplifting our experiences and needs for change.
Nationwide, LGBTQ+ people face increased risks of hate violence, and many folks live in states with harmful legislation proposed or in place targeting their very identity and personhood. AVP calls for LGBTQ+ people to stand together and those in the broader community who are upstanders for LGBTQ+ rights to stand with us this Pride month and beyond to counteract the hate. AVP will offer two free trainings to LGBTQ+ groups and individuals that are online and designed to create space for LGBTQ+ people around the country to plan for safety in their local context.
AVP will be present in every borough of New York City throughout Pride and beyond with volunteer opportunities, learning and training events and more. We invite the community to join us by volunteering, supporting one of our events, or donating to AVP.
This Pride, AVP is proud to offer the following opportunities for the community to engage around LGBTQ+ safety. For more information and updates, visit our Pride 2023 Landing Page.
Learn with AVP
This month, AVP will offer two community-wide training events to give essential resources to help LGBTQ+ around the United States stay safe this Pride and beyond.
Upstander and Safety Marshal Training gives community members skills and tools to de-escalate and diffuse potentially violent situations they encounter around them. This class teaches tangible ways that folks can intervene safely to help prevent or reduce the risk of harm. This training will be held virtually on June 15 and in person at events citywide. Register now for the June 15 event at 12:30 PM ET.
Community Safety Planning training connects businesses, organizations and groups serving the LGBTQ+ community or holding Pride events with helpful information to keep their spaces and attendees safer. This training event helps event organizers build community-driven safety plans to help them navigate situations they may encounter. The next training is scheduled for June 6 at 4:30 PM ET. Community Safety Planning training is designed to support LGBTQ+ event spaces, LGBTQ+ business owners and organizations supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Upstander & Safety Marshal training is open to all. Both training events are free and virtual.
To register for either training event visit our Pride Learn page.
Volunteer in the Community with AVP
In New York City, our work will center around a citywide outreach campaign at Pride festivals in every borough. AVP staff and volunteer canvassers kicked off pride season with Staten Island Pride on May 27 and will be present at Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, Harlem and NYC Pride in June and other Pride celebrations in 2023. You can sign up to volunteer at one or all of the festivals with AVP.
Pride attendees can meet with AVP teams to get information about our programs and services for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, New Yorkers who are living with HIV and those who live at the intersection of those two groups. Often, folks in all three categories experience increased risks of harm and violence due to identity or status, and this outreach aims to ensure the community can connect with AVP before, during, and after a harmful or violent event occurs.
To volunteer with AVP at a Pride festival, visit our volunteer page.
March with AVP
AVP will also join thousands marching during the NYC Pride March on June 27, commemorating more than 50 years of history in honor of the Stonewall Riots and the first march in New York City.
Visit our March page to sign up to March with AVP on June 25.
Donate to AVP
AVP operates a 24/7 hotline, provides crisis counseling and legal support, connects survivors of violence to resources and advocates for changes to make the world safer, all because of support from generous community members. You can make a donation to AVP here.
Celebrate with AVP
AVP throws an amazing party to celebrate LGBTQ+ community and support survivors. Fusion 2023 will be held in Blue Room in Manhattan on June 21 from 6 PM – 9 PM ET, right before NYC Pride. Individual general admission and VIP tickets and tables and sponsorship packages are available. Please find more information located on our Fusion page.
Help and Support from AVP
No matter when violence happens to you or around you, we are here to help. AVP’s hotline will be open and available during Pride season for LGBTQ+ survivors, survivors living with HIV or those at the intersection, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Crisis counseling and support services at AVP are offered in English and Spanish. Call 212-714-1141 to speak with a trained crisis counselor, or complete our Report Violence form to be contacted within 48 hours.
We hope you have a safe, fun and enjoyable Pride season and that you join our efforts to help make All Places Safe Spaces!