New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project Inc.
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.
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, we took to the streets, we pushed back on the police, and we demanded safety and justice for our community at a time when few believed it was our 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 counseling to LGBTQ survivors of all forms of violence including hate violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, police violence and HIV-related violence.