Supporting LGBTQIA+ Victims of Crime

Written by Cora, Victim Advocate

Every year, June first marks the start of Pride Month. CVS joins the LGBTQIA+ community in celebrating a month of joy, pride, and belonging. At the same time, CVS recognizes the additional challenges that victims belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community may face and the depth of LGBTQIA+ history.  

According to Patty Housman’s article titled “The First Pride Was a Riot: The Origins of Pride Month,” Pride Month became a tradition for the LGTBQIA+ community to commemorate the historic Stonewall Inn Uprising. In her article, Patty explains that this event took place around the end of June in 1969. At this time there were laws prohibiting folks from dressing in a certain number of articles of clothing that were determined not to match the gender on their state issued ID. Police officers used these laws as a way to enter Stonewall Inn and arrest transgender or gender nonconforming individuals. On one night in late June the police entered the Stonewall Inn, as they had in the past, but patrons of the bar fought back. (The First Pride Was a Riot: The Origins of Pride Month | American University, Washington, D.C.) 

According to The ALERT Desk: Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Reporting Tracker | GLAAD there have been over 2,000 reports of Anti-LGBTQ incidents since June of 2022. This includes incidents ranging from protests at drag shows to bomb threats targeting health care institutions serving transgender people. 

At a time that more than 1 in 5 of all hate crimes in the United States are motivated by sexual orientation (HRC | New FBI Data: Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Crimes Continue to Spike ) CVS understands how crucial Pride Month is to those in our community. We are committed to serving our especially vulnerable community members and understanding the roadblocks that may be in the way of reaching out for support.   

CVS encourages you to explore different ways of supporting LGBTQIA+ members this June.

This may be encouraging a victim of crime to reach out for help, attending Pride parades or marches, or simply being a support person for those around you who may be part of the LGBTQIA+ community. One local opportunity to show your support will be at a PRIDE event at Faurot Park on the afternoon of Saturday, June 28. The event, co-hosted by the Community Violence Prevention Coalition and the Anti-Violence Teen Ambassador Program, will provide an opportunity for fun and fellowship.

CVS hopes to make clear that our agency supports you and will continue working to promote compassion, belonging, collaboration, and growth.