GMHC Salutes Passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

New York, NY--The passage of VAWA by the US House of Representatives is heartening and a step in the right direction. With the bill already adopted by the Senate, it was signed by President Obama on March 7. This landmark legislation authorizes funding for programs (including battered women's shelters, victim's advocates, rape-prevention education programs) across the county that would help in the prosecution of sexual assault and domestic abuse, and assists the victims of crimes.

GMHC is especially pleased that the act explicitly includes lesbian, transgender and bisexual survivors of violence through new provisions that expand its reach by barring discrimination against LBT women in programs funded by the bill. It also allows undocumented immigrant survivors of domestic violence to seek legal status, which will help combat injustice and violence in many households dealing with HIV. The link between sexual assault and HIV is well established. Additionally, it expands the authority of tribal courts to prosecute non-native American men who are accused of crimes on Indian reservations, addressing the pervasive problem of gender-based violence on reservations. Native American's are ranked third in HIV/AIDS diagnosis in the US.

Marjorie J. Hill, PhD, GMHC's Chief Executive Officer commented: "This legislation has been critical to combating domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, and these protections are important for the protection of all women. With many of GMHC's clients being women of both heterosexual and LBT orientations, we have seen firsthand the fear of violence and its aftermath in the lives of women living with, and affected by HIV/AIDS. VAWA will ensure that justice will be able to be secured in response to acts of violence against them. We commend our friend and hero, Sharon Stapel, Esq., Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP). AVP and the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs have led the way on this legislation and we salute their hard work and success."

"We are thrilled that VAWA now includes explicit LGBT protections and for the specific protections against discrimination that so many LGBT people, including those affected by HIV, face when seeking support," said Sharon Stapel. "We know this law will make a real difference to the thousands of LGBT survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence that AVP works with each year. We thank our friends at GMHC for their work to raise awareness about VAWA and violence against LGBT people."