Blog - Page 11 of 52 - NYC Anti-Violence Project

Letter to Gov. Cuomo and NYS: IPV Orgs Against Rollbacks

March 27, 2020

Dear Governor Cuomo and New York State Legislature, As organizations that serve hundreds of thousands of survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence (IPV) in New York State, through counseling, support and legal services, and advocacy, we join the growing call of voices opposing rollbacks on bail reform. Contrary to the arguments of those who invoke intimate partner violence to push back against bail reform, rollbacks will not make sur[...]

Tips for When Staying Home Isn’t The Safest Plan

March 26, 2020

While being at home is best practice to avoid the spread of this virus, for some it may carry other risks. Many survivors are navigating a difficult reality: staying home to keep themselves and their community safe may keep them isolated with the person(s) causing them harm. This could be a partner, a roommate, or a family member. If you’re unsafe, try to consider what your options are and remember AVP is here to help with navigating available[...]

Coronavirus Update: AVP Office Closure

March 13, 2020

UPDATE 1/13/21: AVP's offices will remain closed until at least June 2021. ORIGINAL POST 3/16/20: We hope you are all taking care of yourselves and each other in these times that are stressful for all of us. We are writing to let you know that due to the escalating situation around coronavirus, and in the interest of our collective community's health and well-being, AVP has decided to close our offices for in-person appointments and walk-i[...]

AVP Says No to Rollbacks Against Bail Reform

New York City, NY - The New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) joins NYC Against Hate Coalition and communities facing hate violence and intimate partner violence to demand “No Rollbacks” to the current New York State bail laws. AVP serves thousands of LGBTQ people every year, who as LGBTQ, Black, Latinx, immigrant, working-class, and low-income survivors of violence, were often themselves criminalized and detained because of the discrimin[...]

40 Change Makers: Cecilia Gentili

March 5, 2020

This interview has been shortened and condensed for clarity. For a decade, Cecilia Gentili has been an ongoing collaborator and community partner with AVP. Working at the intersections of sex work, transgender women’s rights, and incarceration issues, Cecilia Gentili has helped shape critical forums with AVP. Cecilia is well known for advocating for safe and equitable access to housing, employment, and public resources for the trans and ge[...]

New York City Anti-Violence Project Calls for Puerto Rican Officials, McDonald’s Respond to Hate Violence Against LGBTQ People in Puerto Rico

March 2, 2020

NEW YORK, NY -- The New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) joins Make The Road New York, community leaders, LGBTQ individuals, survivors of violence, and New Yorkers in gathering Monday, March 2nd at 6 PM in Jackson Heights, Queens, to mourn the death of Alexa, a transgender woman of color who was killed near San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the early morning of February 24th. According to reports, Alexa was homeless, seeking safety at McDon[...]

40 Change Makers: Thomas von Foerster

February 19, 2020

This interview has been shortened and condensed for clarity. Some of the content may be triggering for survivors. In 1978, Thomas von Foerster moved to New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood as a 37-year-old gay man in search of others like him. He soon found community in the Chelsea Gay Assocation (CGA), a social group for gay men. His involvement in the association quickly grew, and he became treasurer as well as the editor of the monthly[...]

LGBTQ, Women, and Survivor Advocates Celebrate the Many New Yorkers Who Will No Longer Suffer the Harms of Money Bail & Pretrial Jailing

December 3, 2019

December 3, 2019 LGBTQ, Women, and Survivor Advocates Celebrate the Many New Yorkers Who Will No Longer Suffer the Harms of Money Bail & Pretrial Jailing New York - Today, leading LGBTQ, women, and survivor advocacy organizations, including Girls for Gender Equity, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, New Hour for Women & Children Long Island, NYC Anti-Violence Project, Violence Intervention Program, Inc., [...]

A Special NCAVP Report on Anti-LGBTQ Violence During Pride

August 14, 2019

This year, Pride celebrations around the country marked June as the 50th anniversary of Stonewall and New York City hosted the international community for a World Pride celebration. While our communities experienced an increase in visibility, Pride season was also marked by repeated reports of violence in the LGBTQ community. Today, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) is releasing a special report, Pride and Pain: A [...]

AVP Client Receives Settlement from City of New York DHS for Anti-Trans Discrimination

August 13, 2019

New York City Anti-Violence Project’s client, Stevin Bonifacio, has reached a settlement with the City of New York Department of Homeless Services for anti-trans discrimination he experienced in the city’s homeless shelter system. His complaint, filed through the City Commission on Human Rights, includes financial compensation and important trans specific policy changes that will have long standing impact on the trans, gender nonconforming, a[...]

Letter to New York City and State: #Justice4Layleen Demands

June 26, 2019

AVP Contact: Audacia Ray, Director of Community Organizing and Public Advocacy aray@avp.org, 212-714-1184 x 18 Media Contact: Eliel Cruz, Director of Communications ecruz@avp.org, 212-714-1184 x 26 Dear Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio, We, the undersigned organizations have come together in response to the tragic death of Layleen Xtravanganza Cubilette-Polanco who died while being held on $500 bail in the Rose M. Singer Center at [...]

AVP Demands Justice for Layleen Polanco

June 13, 2019

On Monday afternoon, AVP mobilized over 600 people at Foley Square to mourn the loss of, and demand justice for, Layleen Cubilette-Polanco, a 27-year-old Afro-Latinx transgender woman who was found dead in her cell at Rose M. Singer Center at Rikers on June 7, just eleven days before her next scheduled court date. The news of Layleen Polanco’s death is particularly hard as it comes during a string of reported deaths of trans women of col[...]