December 6, 2024 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

More Funding for Anti-Violence Programs

The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s anti-domestic violence program targeting the LGBT community, known as the STOP Violence Program, has recently received three grants totaling over $1.5 million. The Center is the largest community-based provider of LGBT-related legal services and STOP has offered the “largest and most comprehensive LGBT-specific domestic violence programs” in the country, according to a press release.

Since 1996, STOP, which stands for Support, Treatment, Outreach, Prevention, has not only focused on emotional and physical violence toward LGBTQ+ folks in the home, but also on hate crimes (including bullying, harassment, and discrimination), stalking robbery, identity theft, cyber-crime and human trafficking.

The total sum of $1.5 million comes from three separate grants, two of which come from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CALOES), and a third that given by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Victims of Crime.

The first award from CALOES funds a new STOP program, the Safely Home Initiative, which caters to survivors of intimate partner violence. The initiative is meant to give comprehensive assistance through every stage of the process, from emergency, temporary, and permanent housing; counseling for individuals, groups, and families; and legal services.

While LGBT people experience intimate partner violence and sexual abuse at equal or higher levels than the general population, they face unique barriers to seeking help that heterosexual and cisgender people do not. According to the Williams Institute, a gender and sexuality think tank based at UCLA, legal definitions of domestic violence sometimes exclude same-sex couples. More broadly, LGBT folks, especially trans individuals, have lower confidence in law enforcement and the legal system, which means that they are less likely to seek help when they need it.

The second CALOES grant went to the new Safe Shelters Program, which also provides emergency housing assistance to specific groups as well as offering services to LGBTQ+ victims of crime.

“Disturbingly, LGBT people experience intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and stalking at higher rates than their heterosexual counterparts and, yet, few programs in the country provide services beyond intervention, counseling, and police reporting,” said Susan Holt, PsyD, LMFT, the Center’s manager of the STOP Violence Program. “By providing housing assistance, the Los Angeles LGBT Center is taking the vital step forward to protect, save, and empower victims of violent crimes.”

The third grant, from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of  Victims of Crime, provides funding to expand STOP’s data-collecting operation. STOP will begin surveying care providers and survivors in Los Angeles to understand the most effective means of assisting LGBT survivors of crime. The Los Angeles LGBT Center is also asking anyone in Los Angeles who has experienced violent crime to visit their website and fill out a survey.

Related Posts

Team Trans* Walk-Out At Netflix Office In Hollywood

October 18, 2021

October 18, 2021

Netflix’s trans employee resource group is planning a Team Trans* employee walk-out on October 20th at the Netflix office located...

LA Pride Announces LGBTQ Cinespia Event At Hollywood Forever Cemetery

May 23, 2021

May 23, 2021

In honor of 2021’s “Thrive With Pride” theme LA Pride has announced a special night at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. ...

Byron Lane Helping Young Men Understand Testicular Cancer With “Nuts & Bolts”

May 2, 2021

May 2, 2021

Hollywood author playwright, screenwriter and testicular cancer survivor Byron Lane wants to educate young men about testicular cancer.  Testicular cancer...

East Hollywood Man Appearing on Wheel Of Fortune

October 22, 2020

October 22, 2020

Tim Quinn, an East Hollywood resident, will be a contestant on the hit TV show Wheel of Fortune on Wednesday,...

Two Men Charged After Three Trans Women Are Attacked In Hollywood

September 2, 2020

September 2, 2020

Two men have been charged with robbery against three transgender women on the evening of Aug. 17 in Hollywood. Carlton...

Three Trans Women Attacked in Hollywood

August 20, 2020

August 20, 2020

On Sunday August 16th, 2020, Instagram influencer Eden the Doll and her friends Joslyn Flawless and Jaslene White Rose were...

LGBT Icon, Talkshow Host Ellen DeGeneres Wins Award at 77th Annual Golden Globes

January 5, 2020

January 5, 2020

The 77th annual Golden Globes is looking a little bit more LGBTQ-inclusive, and talkshow host and LGBTQ+ icon Ellen DeGeneres’...

2020 Golden Globes Nominations Gayer Than Ever

January 2, 2020

January 2, 2020

Awards season is just around the corner, and the LGBTQ+ representation is bigger and better than ever before. The 77th...

GAY LA: Judy Never Really Left Los Angeles

November 2, 2019

November 2, 2019

How the queer Icon has shaped L.A. There’s no doubt about it: 2019 is the year of Judy Garland. In...

DEAR AIDAN: My Ex-Boyfriend’s Current Boyfriend Hates Me!

November 1, 2019

November 1, 2019

Dear Aidan: I am friends with my ex boyfriend, like pretty close to him. Unfortunately it seems that his new...

THEATRE PREVIEW: “Orry” Dishes Out Hollywood Gossip in Limited Run

October 26, 2019

October 26, 2019

In Gentleman George’s latest production, “Orry,” you’re invited to the funeral of three-time Oscar winner and Hollywood legend, costume designer...

Q&Slay: “What To Do Show” Advice Podcast

October 13, 2019

October 13, 2019

Can you introduce yourselves?  Hey!  I’m Aidan Park and this is my indefatiguable partner in podcasting and occasional shenanigans, Jamie...

GAY LA: Christine Jorgensen in Los Angeles

September 29, 2019

September 29, 2019

Meet the woman who changed everything. The Chateau Marmont is nothing short of an L.A. institution. Home (at one point...

DEAR AIDAN: Feeling Disappointed, Discouraged

September 27, 2019

September 27, 2019

Dear Aidan, I was wondering if you can help me… I am so disappointed in my dating life! Everytime I...

GAY LA – When Drag Was All the Rage (But Queerness Wasn’t)

August 6, 2019

August 6, 2019

Today, it’s not hard to find drag culture wherever you are. From VH1, to Netflix, to Twitter, the language of...