Service Description:
Responding to hate crime and partner abuse by:

assisting with reporting to the police

monitoring case reporting to the police

assisting with the criminal justice system and providing court support

providing referrals to legal, medical, social and

counselling services

assisting with Criminal Injuries Compensation applications, disability insurance applications, victim impact statements

offering self-defence courses for lesbians, gay men and transsexuals

training service providers on issues related to hate motivated violence and same-sex partner abuse

producing and distributing information on hate crimes and same sex partner abuse

conducting workshops and public forums

participating in related coalitions and committees

Our services are for:

Targets of hate motivated violence based on sexual or gender orientation

People who have experienced or are currently experiencing violence/abuse in a same-sex intimate relationship

Toronto police, women's services, social services, and health care providers

Toronto's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, and queer communities.

Publications:

Moving Toward Accessibility: An Interagency Forum Addressing Barriers to Services for Abused Lesbians. Michelle Coutu. 1994. The 519 Church Street Community Centre.

Anti Gay/Lesbian Violence in Toronto: The Impact on Individuals and Communities. Ellen Faulkner. 1997. Department of Justice.

Hate: Communities Can Respond, A Community Handbook. Community Advisory Committee on Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism. 1996. Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto.

Objectives:

To increase the support available to victims of hate motivated violence based primarily on sexual orientation

To increase GLBT community awareness of services available to victims of hate motivated violence

To increase the support available to victims of same-sex partner abuse

To increase GLBT community knwoledge of how to respond to potential or actual violence

Founded in 1991, the Anti-Violence Programme was established to address the problem of anti-gay and anti-lesbian violence, and to meet the needs of men and women who had been victimized by these attacks.

In 1994, the programme expanded to address issues of same-sex partner abuse. In 1996 we expanded again to include pick-up crime.

In 1998, we increased our outreach and accessibility to the trans communities in Toronto.

Contact:
Anti-Violence Programme
519 Church Street
Toronto, ON
M4Y 2C9

416-392-6877
avp@the519.org