FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Cindi Creager, CreagerCole Communications
(646) 279-4559, cindi@creagercole.com
New York, NY – The New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) joins LGBTQ movement leaders across the nation in expressing our profound grief over the loss of Urvashi Vaid.
Statement from AVP Executive Director, Beverly Tillery:
“Urvashi Vaid was a towering figure in the fight to secure equal protections for LGBTQ people, those impacted by HIV and AIDS and those affected by anti-LGBTQ violence. She blazed a trail for countless activists and set the bar for how to push back against anti-LGBTQ oppression and hate. Her relentless activism helped advance the cause of LGBTQ rights and ensure a recognition of the vast intersecting identities within our communities. All of us in the LGBTQ community, whether we knew her personally or not, have benefited from her passion, tenacity and dedication and for many years to come, will continue to learn from her wisdom and follow the path she left for us.
In January, 2020, Urvashi joined AVP for an event kicking off our 40th Anniversary year. Urvashi joined an intergenerational panel to talk about the past, present and future of anti-violence work. In her usual straightforward manner, she reminded us to stay the course in our anti-violence work. When asked how we should address the ongoing anti-LGBTQ violence in the United States, she pointed to three important pillars to continue: documenting violence, education and policy work. ‘The mainstream message is this hateful, white supremacist, nationalist crap… that needs to be refuted,’ she said. ‘For our policy and political work, it’s all about power. Power for all our identities,” she reminded the crowd.
AVP extends our deepest condolences to Urvashi’s wife Kate Clinton and all who loved her. We will channel our sorrow into action, continue the fight for LGBTQ liberation, and strive to uphold her legacy.”
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