Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Reem Ramadan, Director of Community Organizing and Public Advocacy at New York City Anti-Violence Project
4:38:56
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164 sec
Reem Ramadan from the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) testifies about the importance of supporting LGBTQ individuals and addressing hate violence. She emphasizes AVP's role as the only LGBTQ-specific victim services agency in the city and calls for increased funding and support from the City Council.
- AVP provides services including a 24/7 bilingual hotline, free counseling, legal services, and community organizing for LGBTQ survivors of violence.
- Ramadan highlights the disproportionate rate of hate violence against LGBTQ people, especially those with intersecting marginalized identities.
- She requests increased funding for the Path Forward Initiative and the Hate Violence Prevention Initiative, as well as reallocation of funds from law enforcement to community-based organizations.
Reem Ramadan
4:38:56
Peace all, hello.
4:38:58
Good afternoon.
4:38:58
My name is Reem.
4:39:00
I'm the director of community organizing and public advocacy at the New York City Anti Violence Project, AVP.
4:39:06
AVP is a direct service and advocacy organization.
4:39:10
We serve LGBTQ survivors of violence.
4:39:12
We have a 247 bilingual hotline where survivors can access our free counseling and free legal services, We also engage members with community organizing and leadership development trainings.
4:39:25
We envision a world where LGBTQ and HIV affected people are safe and live free from violence.
4:39:31
We are the only LGBTQ specific victim services agency in the city.
4:39:38
It was in this very city that the Stonewall Uprising happened in 1969 where LGBTQ people have had enough and made it known that we deserve to have the same level of safety as everyone else.
4:39:51
While that sounds like a distant time, it is unfortunate that the fight must still go on.
4:39:56
To this day LGBTQ people experience hate violence at a higher rate than our straight and cisgender counterparts.
4:40:04
And because LGBTQ identity lives at the intersection, imagine the compounded violence that a person experiences if they are BIPOC, if they are immigrants, if they are houseless, and if they are formerly incarcerated.
4:40:18
Especially now with the current federal administration LGBTQ people are a target of harmful policies.
4:40:24
The rollback of federal protections against discrimination in healthcare and education, targeting trans people and their access to gender affirming care, and even legislation that bans LGBTQ inclusive curricula in schools.
4:40:39
If there is any respite in this it's that we're in New York.
4:40:44
That the very place that the Stonewall uprising started and we must honor that legacy.
4:40:50
We call on you members of the city council, thank you for being here, for hearing us, and we and we call for your support.
4:40:57
Let's make it known that New York City doesn't have a place for hate or harmful policies and let us put those words into practice.
4:41:05
As another anchor org of the path forward initiative, we ask to increase the funding to ensure that the anchor orgs get their funding restored by the 30 k that was cut and to increase the hate violence prevention initiative to support the organizations working with the communities most vulnerable to violence.
4:41:24
And to reallocate funding from law enforcement agencies to community based organizations that offer culturally competent services that speak their language and that offer life saving services and to invest in community safety, education, healthcare, and housing for all.
4:41:40
Thank you.