Understanding and responding to lgbtq experience of violence in Virginia

The Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) is organized, funded and empowered by the lgbtq community to respond to lgbtq Virginians' experience of violence. VAVP was founded by concerned lgbtq community activists in 2005, found an organizational home in 2006, was funded to do community-based research in 2007, published its findings in 2008, and is currently funded to begin implementation of its recommendations through 2010. This is remarkable effort and progress in a state that Lambda Legal rates at the very bottom of its Safety Scale (regarding legislative respect for same-sex relationships). A panel from VAVP will present key findings and recommendations from the VAVP research report, State of Violence in LGBTQ Communities of Virginia, which include data from a community survey (with nearly 1000 responses) on hate violence, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and bullying; analysis of community perceptions and attitudes; and results from a provider questionnaire. Thirty-six percent of Virginia lgbtq respondents in the community survey had experienced sexual violence as a youth or young adult, and 26% had experienced sexual violence as an adult. Forty-one percent had been in an abusive relationship; and 60% had experienced hate violence or harassment because of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identify. The panel will outline its organizational development through an understanding of key stages, obstacles overcome, successes, and challenges ahead. The panel will also share resources that have been helpful with organizational development, developing curriculums for providers, and with service delivery models for a statewide organization.