The Beginning

In 1980, the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) was born in the streets of Chelsea, created by community activists in response to a series of brutal attacks against gay men. From the start, they took to the streets, they pushed back on the police, and they demanded safety and justice for the community at a time when few believed it was right.

AVP was a free hotline and accompaniment support service that remained an all-volunteer organization until 1984, when the first full-time Executive Director was hired. Over time, AVP's work expanded to provide free, confidential counselling to LGBTQ survivors of all forms of violence including hate violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, police violence and HIV-related violence.

Growth

More recently, they took on the role of coordinating the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, a national coalition of local member programs and affiliate organizations that work to create systemic and social change through data analysis, policy advocacy, education and technical assistance.

They launched a community-based direct service and outreach program to provide on-site counseling and advocacy in all five boroughs of New York City so that they can better reach survivors where they live and work.

They began offering free legal services in response to the number of community members for whom surviving violence also carried unresolved legal issues, and started an Economic Empowerment Program for survivors of violence to begin to rebuild resources in the wake of violence.

Today

Today, AVP is the largest anti-LGBTQ violence organization in the country. They are deeply trusted within the LGBTQ communities and by survivors of violence, and they have earned that trust by showing up for the community day in and day out for almost 40 years.

Mission

AVP empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy.

Vision

AVP envisions a world in which all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected people are safe, respected, and live free from violence.