June 13, 2011
 
Pride and Safety
 
AVP wishes you a Happy Pride!  Pride is a time to celebrate who we are as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people.  During Pride, AVP wants everyone to be safe – below are some tips for how you and your friends and family can stay safe during Pride season. 
 
AVP has a 24-hour bilingual (English/Spanish) hotline at (212) 714-1141 for anyone who has experienced or witnessed violence.
 
Keeping yourself safe

• Have a safety plan (AVP can help):let someone know your plans for the night, such as who you’ll be with and if your plans change.  Brainstorm in advance ways that people can support you.
• Be aware of your surroundings:locate 24-hour establishments to seek help if you feel unsafe.
• Trust your instincts:if you feel threatened or unsafe, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.
• Use wordsto alert bystanders of what’s going on and to frighten (but not anger) an assailant.
• Move towardsa “safer place,” like a more public space.
• Self defense:use your body to defend yourself or get away from an assailant.
• Leave a trail and use your tech:program AVP’s hotline information into your phone; let people around you know when you are leaving a place; text yourself or friends about where you’ll be or where you are; save messages on Facebook, MySpace, OKCupid, Grindr, etc.

 
Getting Support

• If possible, consider medical attention after any incident; violence can create many physical and emotional issues.
• Document the incident:take photos of any injuries; keep records of emails, texts, calls.
• Take care of yourselfby utilizing supportive friends, partners and family.

 
Police Violence

• If you’ve called the police,introduce yourself when they arrive. This shows that you are aware of how to report misconduct.
• If you are harassed or attackedby the police, get their name and badge/car numbers.
• You do not have to consent to a search(of yourself, your car or your house). Do NOT try to stop the police from searching you.  Instead, repeat out loud, “I do NOT consent to this search.”
• You have the rightto watch and document police activities.  Take video and pictures at a safe distance to capture an incident.

 
AVP thanks the Audre Lorde Project and People’s Justice for Community Control & Accountability for sharing this information.
 
If you or someone your love has witnessed or experienced harassment or violence during Pride, call AVP’s 24 hour, bilingual (English/Spanish) hotline at 212.714.1141.  AVP here for you during Pride—and every day.