Blog
AVP icon Victoria “Miss Vickie” Cruz reflects on the work healing from violence in “Pieces of Us” documentary.
May 31, 2023
Victoria “Miss Vickie” Cruz is a living legend and a well-known part of AVP history. Miss Vickie, a self-identified Stonewall veteran, broke a lot of barriers, including being the first transgender woman of color to receive the National Crime Victim Service Award from then-Attorney General Eric Holder. Miss Vickie supported survivors of all forms of violence, including intimate partner violence Her work helping survivors of hate violence whi[...]
40 Change Makers: Gloria McCauley and Chris Cozad
For years, Gloria McCauley and Chris Cozad ran the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Project (BRAVO), creating a space for LGBTQ+ people in the Midwest. In an obituary for the late, beloved McCauley last year, the Buckeye Flame recalled that she “never said no to a queer kid in need of space, whether for a night, a month or longer.” While Cozad is no longer a part of BRAVO, her work and love for the LGBTQ+ community in Columbus, Ohio continue.&nbs[...]
40 Change Makers: Mohamed Amin
Mohamed Amin originally came to AVP as a client in 2013 and quickly became an organizer to raise awareness about hate crimes and create community for queer Caribbean voices in NYC. Mohamed launched his own nonprofit, the Caribbean Equality Project (CEP), in 2015 and has continued to uplift, connect, and serve others all while telling his story. After Pulse, Mohamed advocated for queer Muslim voices and organized conferences, historical retrospect[...]
AVP Condemns NYPD Violence Targeting Safety Marshals at “Care, Not Criminalization” March
May 26, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 25, 2023 AVP strongly condemns the violence the New York City Police Department inflicted upon community safety marshals on May 24 at the “Care, Not Criminalization” march. The event brought together advocates from across the city—including AVP — to call for the City budget to support social services and community-led safety work instead of increased policing. Members of Communities United for Police Reform (CPR[...]
Q & A with AVP Hotline Volunteers
May 15, 2023
New York City Anti-Violence Project’s (AVP’s) Hotline helps survivors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as they look to find resources and support before, during and after experiencing violence or harm. The hotline is staffed by trained crisis counselors and provides direct crisis intervention services to LGBTQ+ people, as well as people living with HIV, who are survivors of all forms of violence. This includes, but is not lim[...]
AVP Impact: Building safer spaces for LGBTQ survivors of gender-based violence
April 25, 2023
AVP is leading the way in increasing access to inclusive and affirming anti-violence services for LGBTQ survivors of intimate partner, dating, and sexual violence. LGBTQ people face the same or higher rates of intimate partner and dating violence, as well as sexual. And, too often, our communities face bias, discrimination, and identity-based hate violence when they reach out for safety, support, and services. At this moment in tim[...]
NYPD Trial Judge Weighs Tossing Illegal Trespass Charge In Discipline Case of Officers Who Killed Kawaski Trawick
April 14, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Friday, April 14, 2023 MEDIA CONTACTS Kristine Mikkelsen, kmikkelsen@spitfirestrategies.com, 908.304.4869 Eliel Cruz, press@justicecommittee.org, 770.608.8725 Orie Givens, communications@avp.org, 212.416.5603 New York – Today, exactly four years to the day that Kawaski Trawick, a Black gay New Yorker, was killed by NYPD officers in his own home - and a week before the discipline trial is scheduled to begin -[...]
AVP condemns attempts by Republican New York State legislators to introduce anti-trans bills targeting youth
The NYC Anti-Violence Project strongly condemns any attempts by NYS Republican legislators to mimic the violent anti-trans legislation that is currently sweeping the nation here in New York, including the most recent bills S6259 and A6124, introduced by Sen. George Borrello and Rep. Andy Goodell. The New York we know aims to protect its LGBTQ community members, and this type of legislation has no place anywhere, especially here. This unnece[...]
AVP’s Walk-In Hours Now 4-Days-A-Week!
As the weather warms up and Pride season approaches, AVP is expanding our in-office walk-in hours! AVP’s walk-in hours are available four-days-a-week, Monday-Thursday from 12-4 PM at our lower Manhattan office. At our walk-in consultations, we explore all the ways AVP can support you, including free crisis counseling, legal consultations, and advocacy support. We will work with you to identify your priorities and connect you with the[...]
WEDNESDAY: Family of Black Gay Man Killed by NYPD Rally with Elected Officials & Groups to Fire Cops
April 10, 2023
Kawaski Trawick’s Family Travels From Georgia to Mark Four-Year Anniversary of Killing and Meet With Civilian Complaint Review Board Before April 24th Discipline Trial On Wednesday, April 12 at 1 p.m. – Following a meeting with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) and just days before the four-year anniversary of the NYPD killing of Kawaski Trawick – family members, elected officials and community organizations across New York City[...]
#QueerSVAM: What is Sexual Violence?
April 4, 2023
April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month, an important time to raise awareness, support survivors, and highlight ways we can end this type of violence. Nationwide, the conversations focus on heterosexual, cisgender survivors, erasing survivors' experiences across the spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations. Data shows, however, that LGBTQ+ people are often more at risk and report higher instances of sexual violence. At AVP, we work [...]