CUAV

A victory for true safety in San Francisco

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

For many LGBT people, this New Year's will be spent not with family and friends, but surviving the violence of life in a jail, prison, or detention facility, or awaiting deportation.

In fact, the terrifying possibility of life-altering deportation is a daily reality for a growing number of LGBT immigrants in San Francisco.

Just Another Statistic?

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Last June, San Francisco firefighters discovered the body of Freddy Canul-Arguello, 23, burned beyond recognition alongside a trash bin. The gay man had moved from Mexico with his brother Ivan about four years ago after learning of the city’s gay-friendly reputation. He was by all accounts a happy man who loved life and often performed in drag at local venues.

LGBTQ Organizations Come Out for the Immediate Elimination of ICE's "Secure Communities" Program

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Organizations Call for the Immediate Elimination of ICE's "Secure Communities" Program

On August 5, 2011, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton informed governors that ICE would terminate all agreements with states to implement its controversial fingerprint-sharing “Secure Communities” (S-Comm) program, despite previously saying that states and counties could opt-out or modify that agreement. This announcement came as a result of powerful community mobilization throughout the country to challenge S-Comm and expose the harmful consequences of police/ICE collaboration.

The secret side of gay pride

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 07:00:00 GMT

The flurry of rainbow flags can only mean one thing - the Gay Pride Parade is coming in San Francisco. Beneath those pride beads however lurks a taboo topic, which rests silently on the lips of the thousands of Castro Street party-goers who pour into the city for the yearly pilgrimage: The secret crisis of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender domestic violence.

LGBTQ Groups Bring Queer Voices to May Day

Thu, 05 May 2011 07:00:00 GMT

On May 1, 2012 LGBTQ communities around the world marched for May Day, a day historically dedicated to workers' rights. In New York City, my colleagues from the Astraea Foundation and I joined the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, two-spirit, and gender-nonconforming (LGBTQTSGNC) contingent. The contingent was the first collaboratively organized event of five Astraea grantee partners: the Audre Lorde Project (ALP), FIERCE, Queers for Economic Justice (QEJ), Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP), and Streetwise and Safe (SAS). These five organizations came together to increase visibility of LGBTQTSGNC communities in immigration and workers' rights movements, and to show solidarity with LGBTQ immigrants, undocumented people of color, and low-income communities.

A World Without Walls

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 08:00:00 GMT

In exploring what life could look like once we abolish the prison industrial complex, one of the first questions we almost always run into is how to address harm without policing, surveillance, and imprisonment. Fortunately, many of us in the U.S. are already establishing principles and practices for confronting harm and violence that do not rely on policing and imprisonment.

The Abolitionist posed five questions to sever- al organizations leading this work throughout the U.S.—Creative Interventions, Communities United against Violence (CUAV), Challenging Male Supremacy Project and Philly Stands Up. These organizations are developing practices, principles, and terms that directly respond to the need to develop abolitionist strategies of responding to harm. The work of these groups illustrates that abolition is not only possible, but practical, necessary, and within our grasp.

Do Hate Crime Laws Really Affect Anti-LGBT Violence?

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 08:00:00 GMT

The recent passage of legislation repealing the military’s infamous "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" policy, which since 1993 told gay and lesbian servicemembers the could serve only if no one knew or they didn’t reveal their sexual orientation, is already being lauded by many as the definitive LGBT achievement of President Barack Obama’s first two years in office.

As we approach the halfway point of Obama’s four-year presidential term and a major shift of power in Congress, we are presented with an opportunity to step back and take another look at the other piece of pro-LGBT federal legislation signed into law over these past two years.

CUAV restructures staff

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:00:00 GMT

A San Francisco nonprofit that's been supporting victims of violence for 30 years is adapting to budget cutbacks and a new strategic plan by reconfiguring its staff and services.

Community United Against Violence (CUAV) is aiming to help people stop violence, rather than just cope with its aftermath. Morgan Bassichis, development manager, said the changes will benefit people who use CUAV's services.

Proposition Hate

Thu, 21 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

A lesbian woman (known as Jane Doe, to protect her anonymity) is gang-raped by four men in Richmond, Calif. On her way home from a Minneapolis grocery store, 32-year-old lesbian Kristen Boyne is beaten unconscious by two men. These are just two of the many hate crimes committed against LGBT people in the past year, and experts say the problem is getting worse.

CUAV Celebrates 30th Years And Talks About Violence

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Community United Against Violence (CUAV) celebrated three decades of healing and transformation on March 20 at 111 Minna Gallery. CUAV announced a bold new vision: to build LGBTQ power to transform violence and oppression. As part of the larger social justice movement, they said they are working to create thriving communities organized around collective liberation, not abuse or exploitation. They said they see violence as a key opportunity to transform queer relationships, communities, and movements. CUAV has worked to build safe, healing LGBTQ communities free from violence. As part of the larger social justice movement, they support those impacted by abuse and mobilize their broader communities to effectively transform all forms of violence.