City Highlights Issue in LGBTQ+ Communities With Events, Offers Resources
The City of West Hollywood will illuminate its globe lanterns and City Hall in purple from October 15 to October 28, 2024, to mark National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This initiative aims to raise awareness about domestic violence, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, by focusing on the intersectionality of sexual orientation, gender identity, and other aspects like age and ability.
Throughout the month, the city will promote resources on different forms of intimate partner violence, including emotional, physical, and economic abuse, and provide information on where victims can seek help. On October 17, West Hollywood will join national and local organizations in a social media “Purple Day” campaign to encourage people to wear purple and raise awareness about domestic violence.
Additionally, the city will host a “Silent Witness” exhibit, featuring silhouettes symbolizing individuals killed by domestic violence. This exhibit is part of a larger national initiative aimed at educating communities about domestic violence and encouraging action to prevent it.
Statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence highlight that more than 10 million adults in the U.S. experience domestic violence annually. Domestic violence affects people across all demographics, including LGBTQ+ individuals, who experience it at similar or higher rates than heterosexual relationships.
- 44% of lesbians, 61% of bisexual women, and 35% of heterosexual women experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetimes;
- 26% of gay men, 37% of bisexual men, and 29% of heterosexual men experience rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetimes; and
- The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey found that more than half (54%) of transgender and non-binary respondents experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetimes.
For those seeking help, resources are available including the following organizations:
- The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website at https://ncadv.org offers comprehensive and inclusive information for all about warning signs of domestic violence and abuse and resources for assistance.
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline website at www.thehotline.org offers immediate help to everyone 24/7/365 via the “chat now” button on the website or by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting LOVEIS to 22522, and for people who are Deaf/hard of hearing: 1-855-812-1011 (VP) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
- Immediate help if you are experiencing domestic violence and in need of shelter is also available via the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence 24-hour Support Services by contacting 1-800-978-3600.
- The Los Angeles LGBT Center offers domestic violence/partner abuse counseling services geared toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities by contacting (323) 993-7649.
- The Jewish Family Service – Hope program offers assistance and crisis services for survivors of domestic violence. The confidential 24-hour crisis line is able to assist English, Spanish, Farsi, and Armenian-speaking callers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by contacting (818)505-0900 and www.jfsla.org/fvp.
- Peace Over Violence provides one-on-one intervention by contacting the 24-hour hotline (310) 392-8381 and provides accessible services for victims of sexual and domestic violence who are deaf, hard of hearing, have a disability, and/or elder individuals at (213) 785-2684.
- Love Is Respect National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline provides 24/7 intimate partner violence help and support to young people between the ages of 13 and 26 by contacting 1-866-331-9474; TTY 1-866-331-8453 or text LOVEIS to 22522.
- The National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline (NDDVH) is available to Deaf callers across the nation 24/7 by phone or videophone by contacting 1-855-812-1001 or email at nationaldeafhotline@adwas.org. Callers using a voice phone will be connected to an interpreter for duration of the phone call.
- The SPCA-LA Animal Safety Net provides temporary homes for pets of domestic violence survivors by contacting 1-888-527-7722.
You can visit the City of West Hollywood’s website at www.weho.org/dvipv for more information.
