New York City Anti-Violence Project

The New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project was founded in 1980 in reaction to neighborhood incidents of anti-gay violence. The project serves lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and HIV-positive victims of violence by providing free and confidential services. In particular, the project's staff and volunteers assist survivors of hate-motivated violence, domestic violence and sexual assault by providing therapeutic counseling and advocacy within the criminal justice system and victim support agencies, information for self-help, referrals to practicing professionals and a 24-hour crisis intervention hotline staffed by professional counselors and trained volunteers. The project also conducts training programs for law enforcement, victim service providers and hospital personnel. AVP seeks to change attitudes that tolerate or instigate hate-motivated violence through public education campaigns and by working with organizations serving other communities victimized by hate-motivated crime. The project also organizes the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual community s response to violence. AVP is headquartered in New York.