Organization works to stop transgender assaults and murders

More than one in four transgender people have been assaulted because of their identity, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality.

But the New York Anti-Violence Project is taking a stand against assaults aimed at transgender people and is working to help.

“I’ve been physically attacked,” said LaLa Zannell, Lead Organizer for the NY Anti-Violence Project. “It is a cost for you to be your unapologetic self in this country.”

Zannell started as a client with the Project but said, “I was so empowered by the services they gave me that I wanted to take it all around the whole city.”

“AVP coordinates the national coalition of anti-violence programs which is a network of about 50 organizations to end all forms of violence that impact the LGBTQ community,” said Beverly Tillery, Executive Director, NY Anti-Violence Project. “We support survivors through a 24-hour bilingual hotline. Staff and volunteers are available 24-hours who can walk people through immediate safety planning.”

They also have legal services, individual counseling and do outreach and hold safety night, which offers people information about how to prevent incidences of violence.

“Until people are willing to stand up in some way, the violent acts will continue,” Tillery said.

For information about the New York Anti-Violence Project, visit www.avp.org.

The Gayly. 3/5/2019 @ 2:15 p.m. CST.