NNEDV Stands With Pride

June 1, 2017

The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) joins the national recognition of Pride Month this June. Every year, countless Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) individuals and allies come together to celebrate one another’s identities; Pride Month is about increasing visibility, equal rights, building community, and celebrating who you are while standing against homophobia, violence, and discrimination.

Pride Month is marked each year to remember the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City [1]. Since then, activist groups have worked together to organize protests, parades, and celebrations for safety and equality.

NNEDV recognizes that violence impacts all communities. Forty-four percent of lesbian women and 61 percent of bisexual women experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by current or former intimate partner. Forty percent of gay men and 47 percent of bisexual men have experienced sexual violence [2].Gender-, sexual orientation-, and transgender identity-based violence impacts not only a survivor’s physical safety, but also their emotional and economic safety. Sexual orientation ranks as the third highest motivator for hate crime incidents [3]. NNEDV is committed to raising awareness on these issues to ensure we are working across intersections of gender identity, sexual orientation, and race to end all forms of violence.

Many LGBTQ survivors, and in particular LGBTQ survivors of color are disproportionately impacted, and experience increased barriers to safety when seeking support from police, hospitals, or shelters. As many as 85 percent of victim advocates reported having worked with an LGBTQ survivor who was denied services because of their sexual orientation or gender identity [2].

NNEDV believes that all survivors deserve to be safe. We will continue to fight for equal access to safety and resources for survivors. This Pride Month, we celebrate and stand with the LGBTQ community and reaffirm our commitment to end gender, sexual orientation, and transgender-based violence.

To find out what Pride Month events are happening near you, click here to find where you can celebrate and stand with LGBTQ survivors.

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[1] Library of Congress, “About: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month 2017.” https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/

[2] Human Rights Campaign, “Sexual Assault and the LGBTQ Community.” http://www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-assault-and-the-lgbt-community

[3] Marzullo, Michelle A., and Libman, Alyn J., “Research Overview: Hate Crimes and Violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People.” http://assets.hrc.org//files/assets/resources/Hatecrimesandviolenceagainstlgbtpeople_2009.pdf?_ga=2.256964809.357511994.1496175749-1572312851.1496175749