Senate committee passes LGBT-inclusive Violence Against Women Act
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), the nation’s only coalition of LGBTQ-specific anti-violence advocates, applaud the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on Feb. 2.
For the first time, the Act includes specific protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
These provisions acknowledge the specific needs of LGBTQ survivors as underserved populations, create non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ survivors and increase state funds to address LGBTQ survivors’ safety and support.
This bill recognizes that all survivors of violence deserve the same protections – and that LGBTQ people face barriers because of their sexual orientation and gender identity that must be addressed to move forward from violence and increase safety. NCAVP, working in coalition with the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the LGBT Bar Association, the Center for American Progress, and local anti-violence advocates, has successfully advocated for these changes to VAWA, based on the experiences of NCAVP members about the impact that violence has on LGBTQ people.
When faced with violence, many LGBTQ survivors have nowhere to go. Only 1.5 percent of all victim services organizations in the U.S. are LGBTQ-specific. In a 2010 report with the National Center for Victims of Crime, NCAVP found that the vast majority of mainstream service providers and law enforcement do not have the programs or expertise they need to reach LGBTQ survivors of violence. The study showed that more than 90 percent of all mainstream providers were not engaged in outreach to the LGBTQ communities, lacked the cultural competency to effectively work with LGBTQ survivors or did not have relationships with LGBTQ-specific organizations.
Even when LGBTQ survivors do reach out for support, they face widespread discrimination. In a 2011 NCAVP survey, 85 percent of service providers working with LGBTQ survivors reported that their clients were denied services such as shelter, crisis intervention, police or legal response, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
VAWA, a bipartisan reauthorization bill, was introduced by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID). NCAVP applauds the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing an inclusive VAWA that will address the needs of LGBTQ survivors – as well as women survivors (lesbian, bi or straight) of our country’s out of control epidemic of violence against women — and all survivors of violence.
Equality Rochester update: meeting is 7 pm on Feb. 6
An Equality Rochester meeting is scheduled this coming Monday, 2/6, at 7 p.m. at Equal Grounds.
We wanted to meet before the Marriage Equality USA Town Hall & Kickoff Party event on Feb. 16.
There is lots of good news to share and things to decide about Rochester’s participation in the DOMA fight and GENDA campaign. Please try to make it and bring a friend!
Good News: We are waiting to hear if Washington becomes the second state to approval marriage equality… their Senate passed it, and the House votes are believed to be all lined up. Their Governor said it would be signed.
Other good news — it appears that there will not be a push in New Hampshire to repeal marriage this year — it was taken off the GOP Legislative Agenda …let’s thank our own Jenn Schwab for her efforts there with HRC!
DynCorp to add anti-discrimination protections after over 50,000 sign online petition
After more than 50,000 people signed a popular online petition urging DynCorp International to protect gay employees from harassment, the U.S. defense contractor announced it is adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its workplace nondiscrimination policies.
Tico Almeida, a civil rights attorney and founder of the organization Freedom to Work, started the petition on Change.org after DynCorp announced a $150,000 settlement with a former employee who claimed that despite significant anti-gay harassment on the job, including being called homophobic slurs like “queer” and “f*ggot” in front of managers, DynCorp officials did not step in to stop the abuse.
“This is a powerful victory that will help make the workplace a little more equal for all current and future LGBT DynCorp employees,” said Almeida. “More than 50,000 people sent a loud and clear message to DynCorp that there is no room for anti-gay harassment or discrimination in the workplace.”
DynCorp is a leading U.S. defense contractor. employing more than 16,000 people around the globe. DynCorp takes in billions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer money each year, with 96 percent of its annual revenue coming from contracts with the federal government.
Almeida hopes that DynCorp’s decision to expand their non-discrimination policies will spur the White House to act on an executive order barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity across all U.S. government contractors.
“It’s terrific that DynCorp has moved to protect its LGBT employees, but let’s also remember that dozens of other government contractors do not protect their workers from anti-LGBT harassment and discrimination,” said Almeida. “An executive order outlawing discrimination at federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is sitting at the White House. President Obama should take this opportunity, in the wake of DynCorp’s decision, to make sure that no government contractor uses taxpayer money to fund anti-LGBT harassment or discrimination.”
DynCorp’s new anti-harassment policy, which includes protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, is effective immediately.
“Tico’s petition on Change.org mobilized more than 50,000 people calling for an end to workplace discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Michael Jones, Senior Organizer with Change.org. “It’s this type of people power that the Change.org platform helps foster, allowing anyone to start a petition and change the world.”
