June 2023

NEWS & UPDATES

Volume 21 | Issue 6

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month

Celebrated annually during the month of June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. It is a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community and to demonstrate equal rights.

Throughout June, NYSCADV will engage in virtual activities to increase public awareness and education about LGBTQ and domestic violence, including blog posts that will be posted on the NYSCADV website every Friday through the end of June. The blog posts will feature resources, best practices, webinars, and other materials for dv programs used. LGBTQ individuals may experience unique forms of intimate partner violence and distinctive barriers to seeking help due to fear of discrimination or bias. "Outing" or threatening to reveal one partner's sexual orientation/gender identity may be used as a tool of abuse in violent relationships. It may also be a barrier that reduces the likelihood of help-seeking for the abuse. Prior experiences of physical or psychological trauma, such as bullying and hate crime, may also make LGBTQ victims of domestic violence less likely to see help.

To learn more about LGBTQ Pride Month and how you can get involved, check out these resources:

Library of Congress LGBTQ Pride Month: Learn more about the history of LGBTQ Pride Month.
The National LGBTQ Institute on IPV: Identifies and responds to the specific and emerging needs of diverse LGBTQ intimate partner violence survivors. The Institute informs research and policy agendas, coordinates with other Domestic Violence Resource Network members, and provides training and technical assistance to improve nationwide violence prevention and intervention efforts.
NYC Anti-Violence Project: Empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end violence through organizing and education and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy.
In Our Own Voices: The only culturally specific nonprofit organization in NYS dedicated to providing services to LGBTQ people of color.
QUEERY: A resource for art-based violence prevention education programs that use creative art and media projects to raise awareness around LGBTQ issues and prevention.
The Rainbow Library: An initiative driven by GLSEN Connecticut that sends LGBTQ+ affirming text sets to schools and libraries for free.

Celebrating Juneteenth

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and informed the enslaved African Americans in the area that they were free. This news came two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. However, due to various reasons, it had not been fully enforced in Texas until General Granger’s arrival.

Juneteenth has been celebrated as an important holiday in Texas since 1866 and has spread to other parts of the United States. It is a day to celebrate freedom, remember the struggles and sacrifices of African Americans throughout history, and continue to work toward equality and justice for all.

As we celebrate Juneteenth, we must also acknowledge the ongoing struggle for racial justice in the United States. While progress has been made, much work must be done to address systemic racism and ensure that all people are treated with dignity and respect. Juneteenth is a reminder of the resilience and strength of the African American community in the face of adversity and a call to continue the fight for justice and equality.

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NYSCADV Disappointed FY’24 State Budget Didn’t Include More for DV Survivors and DV Agencies

This year’s State Budget was a mixed bag for New Yorkers experiencing domestic violence and their families. On the VOCA front, OVS received a second $14.4 million installment to help fund existing contracts with victim service providers. However, the State Budget did not include an additional $12 million for legacy service providers that received less funding in the latest round of awards. Despite our advocacy, the final State Budget did not provide a 4% cost-of-living adjustment to DV advocates. Nor did it increase the amount of funding earmarked for non-residential DV services. Finally, the budget included a new $5 million earmark to provide financial support to DV survivors, which will be administered by OPDV.

NYSCADV’s 2023 Day of Action coincided with the final debate and passage of the budget. NYSCADV and DV advocates from around the state held a press conference denouncing the State Budget for excluding DV advocates from the COLA and for cutting funding for services. We thank everyone who participated, whether in person, in the office or at home.

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