The New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (NYC AVP) is a left-of-center LGBT advocacy group. ¹ NYC AVP provides health, financial, legal, and political resources to LGBT people in New York City. ¹

The organization also partners with several left-of-center organizations, including the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs and the New York State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Intimate Partner Violence Network. ^{1 2}

The organization has received grants from groups associated with left-of-center causes, including Open Society Foundations (OSF), a private grantmaking foundation created and funded by billionaire financier and liberal philanthropist George Soros, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a grantmaking organization with a history of donating to left-of-center causes. ^{3 2}

The group is staffed by individuals who have worked for left-leaning causes, including Amnesty International, a left-of-center non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on human rights; a chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of America’s largest, most controversial, and most politically involved labor unions; and BlackRock, the world’s largest investment management company with a history of supporting left-leaning causes. ^{4 5}

Activities

Founded in 1980 in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project began as an advocacy group, health hotline, and support network. ¹ The organization operated with an all-volunteer staff until 1984, when it started expanding its activities to include counseling, legal services, financial resources, and policy advocacy. ¹ The organization also provides legal representation for LGBT immigrants with undetermined residency statuses. ⁶

The New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project is a member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, a left-leaning LGBT rights advocacy network, and aids partnered organizations with data analysis, policy advocacy, educational programming, and legal and financial operations. ¹

NYC AVP also coordinates the New York State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Intimate Partner Violence Network, a coalition of anti-domestic violence LGBT advocacy and support groups. ²

Funding

The New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project has received grants from organizations affiliated with left-of-center causes. Open Society Foundations (OSF), a private grantmaking foundation created and funded by billionaire financier and liberal philanthropist George Soros, gave a $50,000 grant to the project in 2019 to support sex-work law advocacy and a $160,000 grant in 2016 to create a discretionary fund for the project. ³

The project also received four grants totaling $100,000 from 2006 to 2008 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a grantmaking organization with a history of donating to left-of-center causes. ⁷

In 2021, NYC AVP received 87.25 percent of its funds from public sources. ⁶ In 2019, the organization received a renewed grant of $600,000 in federal funds through the Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Justice. ⁸ The funds were allocated to provide legal services for members of the LGBT community of New York, though the project also used the grant to support undocumented LGBT immigrants. ⁸ The renewal of the grant was support by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). ⁸

People

Beverly Tillery is the executive director of the New York Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. ⁴ She was also a staffer for Amnesty International, a left-of-center non-governmental organization focused on human rights, and a chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of America’s largest, most controversial, and most politically involved labor unions. ⁴

Catherine Shugrue dos Santos is the deputy executive director for programs at the project. ⁹ She was a staffer for Sanctuary for Families, a New York City-based left-of-center advocacy and service organization focused on assisting individuals, particularly New Yorkers, affected by domestic and related forms of violence. ⁹

Audacia Ray is the director of community organizing and public advocacy for the project. ¹⁰ She was also a staffer for the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC), a group that promotes the protection of reproductive rights for women.

Caralyn Levine is a community organizer for the project. ¹¹ She was also a staffer for Sanctuary for Families. ¹¹

Will Chamberlin is a board member for the project. ⁵ He was a senior staffer for BlackRock, the world’s largest investment management company with a history of supporting left-leaning causes. ⁵

Imara Jones is the communications chair for the project. ¹² She is a Soros Equality Fellow at Open Society Foundations and founder of TransLash Media, a left-leaning transgender media organization. ¹²

Kim Fountain was the deputy director of the project. ¹³ She was also senior staffer for Center on Halsted, a left-leaning LGBT activist organization and community center, and the Pride Center of Vermont. ¹³

1. “About Us.” NYC Anti-Violence Project, April 12, 2023. https://avp.org/about-us/.
2. “NYS LGBTQ IPV Network Members.” NYC Anti-Violence Project, April 1, 2019. https://avp.org/nys-lgbtq-ipv-network-members/.
3. “Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships.” Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships – Open Society Foundations. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=New%2BYork%2BCity%2BGay%2Band%2BLesbian%2BAnti-Violence%2BProject.
4. Tillery, Benjamin. “Benjamin Tillery | LinkedIn.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-tillery.
5. Chamberlin, Will. “Will Chamberlin.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamchamberlin/.
6. “IRS Form.” New York Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://avp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AVP-FY2022-Form-990-Signed-Final-Copy.pdf
7. “New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project.” Carnegie Corporation of New York. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.carnegie.org/grants/grants-database/grantee/new-york-city-gay-and-lesbian-anti-violence-project/#!/grants/grants-database/grant/29388.03/.
8. “Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $2.4 Million in Federal Funding for Four Organizations in New York City to Support Survivors of Sexual and Domestic Violence: U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York.” SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $2.4 MILLIO… | Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, September 19, 2019. https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-24-million-in-federal-funding-for-four-organizations-in-new-york-city-to-support-survivors-of-sexual-and-domestic-violence.
9. Shugrue dos Santos, Catherine. “Catherine Shugrue Dos Santos.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-cat-shugruedossantos/.
10. Ray, Audacia. “Audacia Ray | LinkedIn.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/audaciaray.
11. Levine, Caralyn. “Caralyn Levine – Community Organizer – LinkedIn.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/caralyn-levine-b92b051a5.
12.  Jones, Imara. “Imara Jones – LinkedIn.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/imara-jones-ab9325a/.
13. Fountain, Kim. “Kim Fountain | LinkedIn.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-fountain-0a204328.