Good evening, name is Tasha Amezcua and I work at the New York City Anti-Violence Project in our Community Organizing and Public Advocacy department. AVP provides free and confidential services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-affected people who have experienced hate violence, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and institutional violence. We also organize and build campaigns to prevent and respond to violence in our communities.

Today we are talking specifically about two recent attacks of gay men that happened in Midtown, but we also speak to the experiences of all LGBTQ and HIV-affected people who have experienced violence, or are at risk for experiencing violence.

  Read the full text of Tasha's statement here.