Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 20:18:01 +0100 From: glaad@glaad.org (GLAAD) Subject: Release from NCAVP The following is a Media Release from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) and a list of anti-violence organizations nation-wide. Please feel free to contact NCAVP, a local anti-violence group or the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's (GLAAD) Associate Communication's Director, Liz Tracey (212.807.1700 ext.14, pager: 1-800-946-4646 pin # 1423257, or via e-mail: tracey@glaad.org). ****************************************************************************** For Immediate Release: July 16, 1997 Contact: Christine Quinn (212) 807-1700 Sharen Shawn Johnson (213) 993-7676 Constance Potter (612) 822-0127 Tom Carrigan (773)472-6469 NATIONAL COALITION OF ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAMS URGES FBI AND POLICE TO COOPERATE WITH GAY COMMUNITY IN CAPTURE OF SPREE KILLER ANDREW CUNANAN July 16, 1997 New York City-Today, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) renewed its call for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law enforcement agencies to work cooperatively with members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) communities to apprehend suspected spree killer Andrew Cunanan. NCAVP also announced that it will assist the FBI and local law enforcement agencies by continuing to distribute fliers warning about Cunanan in GLBT communities across the country. "In turn, we urge that all law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, cooperate fully with NCAVP member organizations across the country in halting this string of tragedies," said Christine Quinn, Executive Director of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP). "Toward this end, AVP has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Cunanan's arrest," said Quinn. The FBI has matched that offer with its own $10,000 reward. "Also, we are pleased to announce that today, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has matched our $10,000 reward," said Quinn. Cunanan, 27, one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives, is the only suspect in Tuesday's assassination-style shooting death of fashion designer Gianni Versace in Miami Beach. Also, Cunanan is charged in the May 3, 1997 murder of David Madson in Minneapolis; and is suspected in three other murders: Jeffrey Trail of Minneapolis on April 27; Lee Midglin, Chicago real estate magnate on May 4; and William Reese, a cemetery caretaker of Pennville, New Jersey on May 9. Mr. Reese's red pickup truck is believed to have been found abandonded in a parking garage near the murder site of Versace. "We want to extend out deepest sympathies to the family and friends of all the men who have been murdered," said Toni Carrigan, Director of Horizon's Anti-Violence Project in Chicago. "We are concerned that each of these victims be remembered." "Members of our communities are expressing a range of emotions in reaction to these killings, from denial to anger to sorrow to fear to complacency," said Constance Potter, of the Gay and Lesbian Community Action Council in Minneapolis. "But the real story here is the work that we are doing in conjunction with law enforcement to contain this threat." "We hope that people everywhere, including members of our communities, will be reminded that they should take basic precautions to ensure their everyday safety," added Robb Johnson, of the Victim Recovery Program at Fenway Community Health Center in Boston. NCAVP members say that FBI interaction with individual member agencies about Cunanan has been varied. Potter reports excellent communication with FBI officials in Minneapolis. However, Quinn recounts that FBI agents took 45 minutes to respond to a report that a man fitting Cunanan's description was in a New York City gay bar; by the time agents arrived, the man had left. FBI agents have urged GLBT community members to forward any information that might help them capture Cunanan. "We are eager to cooperate. Cunanan is a threat to us all," said Sharen Shaw Johnson, Supervising Advocate of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center Anti-Violence Project, noting that the victims include persons believed to be heterosexual. "But we also urge that law enforcement, including the FBI, to work fully with us and with other local GLBT organizations who best know how to reach their communities," said Shaw Johnson. "The effort in capturing Cunanan must, of course, fall to the FBI and local law enforcement. But, the most effective law enforcement is a product of corporation between communities and police. We encourage and challenge both the FBI and police to partner with us fully toward bringing a quick end to this needless violence," said Darryl Cooper, Chairperson of Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence in Washington, D.C. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) addresses the pervasive problem of violence committed against and within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive (LGBTH) communities. NCAVP is a coalition of programs that document and advocate for victims of anti-LGBTH violence/harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, police misconduct, and other forms of victimization. NCAVP is dedicated to creating a national response to the violence plaguing these communities. Furthermore, NCAVP supports existing anti-violence organizations and emerging local programs in the efforts to document and prevent such violence. -30- ******************************************************************************* ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAMS -USA ARKANSAS Women's Project (501) 372-5113 ARIZONA Anti-Violence Project/Valley of the Sun Gay & Lesbian Community Center (602) 265-7283 CALIFORNIA Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center/Anti-Violence Project (213) 993-7676 Community United Against Violence (415) 777-5500 San Diego Anti-Violence Project (619) 692-2077 Sonoma County Anti-Violence Project (707) 463-0183 Anti-Violence Empowerment Committee Project (805) 569-0561 COLORADO Colorado Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project c/o Equity Colorado (303) 839-5540 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Gay Men and Lesbians Opposing Violence (202) 418-1039 FLORIDA GUARD (954) 527-9118 Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Greater Fort Lauderdale (954) 563-9500 Lesbian/Gay community Association (904) 737-2325 Switchboard of Miami (305) 358-1640 Gay & Lesbian Community Services of Central Florida (407) 425-4527 GEORGIA Lesbian & Gay Rights Chapter American Civil liberties Union of Georgia (404) 257-5259 Southerners on New Ground (S.O.N.G.) (404) 212-9695 IDAHO Idaho Anti-Violence Project (208) 344-4295 ILLINOIS Horizons anti-Violence Project (773) 472-6469 INDIANA Equality Network (888) 627-5879 KENTUCKY Gay & Lesbian Services Organization (606) 296-4170 MASSACHUSETTS Fenway Community Health Center Victim Recovery Program (617) 267-0900, ext. 308 MARYLAND Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore (410) 547-1784 MICHIGAN Triangle Foundation (313) 537-3323 Lesbian and Gay Network of Western Michigan Stop the Violence Project (616) 242-9829 MINNESOTA Gay & Lesbian Community Action Council 612/822-0127 MISSISSIPPI Gulf Coast Gay Alliance 601/396-3333 MISSOURI St.Louis Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project 314/826-7067 NEVADA Community Coalition to End Hate-Motivated Violence 702/784-4611 NEW HAMPSHIRE Sexual Minorities Advisory Committee 603/430-8503 NEW YORK New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project 212/807-6761 NORTH CAROLINA North Carolina Coalition for Gay & Lesbian Equality 919/286-1570 NORTH CAROLINA Gay & Lesbian Helpline of Wake County 1919/672-9222 OHIO The Lesbian/ Gay Community Center 216/522-1999 OHIO Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization 614/268-9622 OKLAHOMA Tulsa Oklahomans For Human Rights 918/747-5466 OREGON Lesbian Community Project 503/282-8090 OREGON Deschutes Discrimination Reporting Line 503/383-4113 OREGON The Other Side 503/389-6391 PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia Lesbian & Gay Task Force 215/772-2000 PENNSYLVANIA Anti Violence Committee 814/238-6403 RHODE ISLAND Lesbian and Gay Victim Assistance Program 401/781-3990 RHODE ISLAND Rhode Island Alliance for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights 401/331-0227 TENNESSEE Lesbian and Gay Coalition for Justice 615/322-8284 TEXAS Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby of Texas 512/474-5475 TEXAS Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance Social Justice Committee 214/528-4233 TEXAS Lambda Services 915/562-4297 TEXAS Houston Gay/Lesbian Caucus 713/521-1000 UTAH Anti-Violence Project 801/534-8989 VIRGINIA Virginians for Justice 804/643-4816 WASHINGTON Spokane Alliance for Equity 509/324-1544 WEST VIRGINIA West Virginia Hate Crimes Task Force 304/364-5465 _______________________ GLAAD -- The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation E-Mail: glaad@glaad.org Phone: (212) 807-1700 Fax: (212) 807-1806 GLAAD Online http://www.glaad.org -- AlertLine 1-(800) GAY MEDIA GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. ______________________________________________________________________________ 'GLAAD' and 'Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation' are registered trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.