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MEDIA RELEASE
DATE:
April 19, 2010
LOCAL CONTACT:
Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO)
Gloria McCauley, Executive Director
614 294 7867
gloria@bravo-ohio.org
BRAVO Announces 2010
Community Service Award Recipients
Winners to be Honored at Guess Who's
Coming to Dinner 2010
Columbus: BRAVO is pleased to announce the winners of its 2010 BRAVO Community Service Awards. The honor will be shared by Napoleon Bell, Director of the City of Columbus Community Relations Commission (CRC) and Deborah Schipper, Wellness Coordinator of the Sexual Violence Education and Support Office at The Ohio State University.
Each year BRAVO honors individuals and organizations that have gone "above and beyond" in their service, dedication and work within and on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities. Traditionally BRAVO acknowledges those whose work goes on behind the scenes, often unnoticed and under-appreciated. Read Release.
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MEDIA RELEASE
DATE:
October 29, 2009
LOCAL CONTACT:
Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO)
Gloria McCauley, Executive Director
614 294 7867
gloria@bravo-ohio.org
MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar
917 704 6358
rsklar@avp.org
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs releases report: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Domestic Violence in the United States in 2008
Los Angeles The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) today released its report on domestic violence within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities in the United States during the year 2008. The total number of cases reported to NCAVP members was 3,419. Los Angeles, with increased monitoring capacity, reported close to 1,500 incidents. Major findings of the report reflected that the number of reported DV-related fatalities increased and the number of cases with reported police misconduct in 2008 increased by 93%. In 2008, incidents of police misconduct, reported by 2.3% of all callers to NCAVP organizations, nearly doubled compared to those reported in 2007.
This report is the definitive resource on LGBTQ domestic violence in the US. However, it is certain that incidents of LGBTQ domestic violence are under-reported and under-addressed due to systemic anti-LGBTQ bias and discrimination. The reported trends demand an increased response to issues of and support for LGBTQ domestic violence services, said Sharon Stapel, Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.
Other major findings of the 2008 report included increases in reports along many race and ethnicity categories, notably people identifying as Latina/o (100%), Multi-racial (91%), and African Descent (50%). Striking increases were seen in a relatively new category of immigration, especially people with recent visas (1700%), refugees and asylees (900%), and people who are undocumented (250%). Additionally, reports of domestic violence against people living with disabilities increased by almost 50%.
According to Kaitlin Nichols, Director of Organizing & Education for The Network/LaRed, Increased violence at the hands of intimate partners and of the police, and increasingly diverse communities seeking services, shows that strengthened cultural competency in mainstream institutions and the continued presence of LGBTQ-specific anti-violence programs are needed now more than ever.
NCAVP makes several key recommendations in the 2008 report, including the need for local state and federal governments to: increase funding to LGBTQ domestic violence programs, extend support to community and non-profit based prevention initiatives, and improve the efficacy of law enforcements response to LGBTQ domestic violence.
Despite a troubled economy, NCAVP calls upon elected officials and community leaders to show their commitment to fighting domestic violence within the LGBTQ communities with resources, support and a willingness to speak out against this violence. The need for safe and effective services and public awareness has never been greater said Terra Slavin, Lead Staff Attorney for the Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy Project at the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center.
This report is a product of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), a network of over 35 anti-violence organizations that monitor, respond to, and work to end hate and domestic violence, HIV-related violence and other forms of violence affecting LGBTQ communities.
Fifteen NCAVP member organizations from the Pacific Coast, the West, the Midwest and the Northeast collected data for this report. No programs reported from the Southeast or the South, due to a highly limited number of programs and resources. NCAVP member organizations are found in 20 states throughout the country and many are the single resource in their entire state.
"More than half of the country is without a local or state-wide LGBTQ anti-violence program," said Kristin Tucker of the Northwest Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse, "There is no question that we have made great strides in increasing the innovative, critical programs available to LGBTQ survivors of domestic violence, but we know that community-based services continue to be under-resourced. The government, the public and members of LGBTQ communities across the country must work in collaboration to bring this issue forward and to address the needs of LGBTQ survivors of domestic violence."
Download complete copy of the report.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
October 27, 2009
LOCAL CONTACT:
Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO)
Gloria McCauley, Executive Director
614 294 7867
gloria@bravo-ohio.org
MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar
917 704 6358
rsklar@avp.org
NCAVP SUPPORTS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUEER (LGBTQ) INCLUSION IN HATE VIOLENCE LEGISLATION; URGES CONGRESS TO TAKE MORE ACTION TO END SYSTEMIC BIAS.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), a national coalition of over 35 member anti-violence programs, supports the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. When signed by President Obama, this legislation will send a clear message that society abhors hate crimes based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race, religion, national origin or disability. However, Congress must do more to end hate violence by emphasizing anti-LGBTQ violence education and prevention, and by addressing systemic biases in the criminal legal system.
Hate crimes are "message" crimes: the perpetrator hopes to send a message to all communities that the victim represents that, "you are not safe or wanted here and you will not be tolerated or respected here." Because of the dual nature of hate violence, NCAVP members work not only with thousands of individual LGBTQ victims or survivors and their families every year, but also with communities, to restore safety and hope to their lives. NCAVP organizations also engage in prevention efforts, providing hundreds of workshops to individuals, organizations, healthcare providers and schools on LGBTQ-related violence issues.
Read complete media release.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
June 17, 2009
Ohio schools are unsafe places for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) youth, according to a research brief released today by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
Inside Ohio Schools: The Experiences of LGBT Students, a report based on findings from 244 Ohio students who participated in GLSEN's 2007 National School Climate Survey, shows that Ohio LGBT students face extreme levels of harassment and assault and skip school at alarming rates because of feeling unsafe.
Ohio is one of the 39 states that does not explicitly protect students from bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.
"Inside Ohio Schools shows how much work needs to be done to make sure LGBT students in Ohio are safe in school," GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. "Ohio has lagged behind other states in taking the simple and effective steps to begin addressing anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. The state and all of its schools need to commit to making sure that schools are safe for all students."
Read complete media release.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
April 29, 2009
Matthew Shepard Act Passes U.S. House of Representatives
BRAVO Encourages Senate to Act Quickly
BRAVO applauds the passage of the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA), also known as the Matthew Shepard Act (H. R. 1913) in the U.S. House of Representatives April 29,2009 by a margin of 249 to 175. This action moves the United States one step closer to the passage of the first federal law to provide protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition the bill would add protections for gender and disability. The Bill was recently introduced in the Senate, though no vote has been scheduled.
Read complete media release.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
November 19, 2008
NCAVP saddened and outraged by recent brutal murders of
transgender women across the U.S and fears this violence may be
increasing nationally
New York - As the Transgender Day of Remembrance approaches, a day when victims of anti-transgender
bias are mourned around the globe, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has
documented increases in severe violence directed at transgender communities across the country,
especially against transgender women of color... Read complete media release.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
November 5, 2008
LOCAL CONTACT:
Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO)
614 294 7867
Gloria McCauley, Executive Director
Gary Heath, Domestic Violence Program Coordinator
NATIONAL CONTACT:
Avy Skolnik, Coordinator, Statewide and National Programs (NCAVP)
212 714 1184
BRAVO Releases 2007 Statistics on LGBT Domestic Violence
Report shows no real change in reporting from previous year
Columbus - BRAVO received 44 reports of domestic violence in 2007, which reflects no real change from the previous year when 43 incidents were reported. As in previous reporting years approximately half of all victims/survivors were female (23) and half were male (21). One female survivor identified as transgender (MtF). There was no significant change in the age or racial makeup of those reporting this year; however that is hard to quantify since data regarding the survivors age and race was captured in only half of the reports.
Eighteen percent of those reporting stated that the police were called, and half of those police responses resulted in arrest of the perpetrator. There were no claims of a mis-arrest by any of those reporting. Nine percent of victims/survivors reported that they had been sexually abused by their intimate partners. Approximately 14% reported sexual abuse by their batterer the previous year (2006).
These reports are only a snapshot of the incidence of LGBT intimate partner violence. Intimate partner violence goes largely unreported and even more so in LGBT communities. Studies have 25% to 33% of heterosexual women report having been the victims of intimate partner violence. National studies have shown similar rates within LGBT communities. BRAVO's community surveys, while by no means scientific, have had LGBT individuals consistently reporting rates of intimate partner abuse ranging from 29% to 37%. These are abusive incidences within their lifetime and those reporting may or may not be in an abusive relationship at the time of reporting.
BRAVO is a member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs and this report is included in their release on LGBT domestic violence, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Domestic Violence in 2007. The 50-page report, released annually by NCAVP, examines data compiled from thousands of LGBT people who experienced intimate partner violence during the year 2007. In addition to the quantitative information, the report includes narratives from survivors, data analyses from local LGBT community groups, recommendations and tips for service providers, and a state guide on LGBT access to domestic violence orders of protection.
The full report can be downloaded at www.NCAVP.org or www.AVP.org.
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BRAVO works to eliminate violence perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identification, domestic violence, and sexual assault through prevention, education, advocacy, violence documentation, and survivor services, both within and on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) addresses the pervasive problem of violence committed against and within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive communities. NCAVP is a coalition of programs that document and advocate for victims of anti-LGBT and anti-HIV/AIDS violence/harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, police misconduct and other forms of victimization. Further, NCAVP supports existing anti-violence organizations and emerging local programs in their efforts to document and prevent such violence.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
July 16, 2008
LOCAL CONTACT:
Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO)
614 294 7867 or 614 578 1689
Gloria McCauley, Executive Director
BRAVO Launches Statewide Outreach
Cleveland and Cincinnati to have access to Anti-Violence Services
Columbus: The Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization announces the expansion of anti-violence services throughout the State of Ohio. BRAVO began to focus outreach activities in Cleveland and Cincinnati with Pride 2008.
BRAVO was launched at Pride 1996 and has been providing quality community service to Columbus and Central Ohio ever since. BRAVO's vision has always included state-wide outreach. Beginning with the 2008 Pride season BRAVO launched outreach efforts and services in both locations. BRAVO traveled to pride events in both cities. In addition to outreach and distributing safety whistles, BRAVO conducted needs assessment surveys to help focus efforts and learn more about the individual communities.
"We have been taking calls from around Ohio for quite a while." noted BRAVO Board President, Bill Hedrick "We are just making it official. "We are in the beginning stages of this effort and will be working to build collaborations with other groups over the next few months."
BRAVO is working with community leaders and organizations in both communities to ensure a smooth launch. BRAVO will work with existing resources to improve access to culturally appropriate services and to provide assistance to crime victims as they seek access to justice. According to Gloria McCauley, Executive Director "We are looking forward to becoming a part of, and an asset to, the LGBT Communities of Cleveland and Cincinnati."
The Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO) works to eliminate violence perpetuated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identification, domestic violence and sexual assault through prevention, advocacy, violence documentation, and survivor services - both within and on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities.
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