Kansas City Joins 2008 National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Observance

Written by Doug Riley
Wednesday, 01 October 2008

Kansas City, MO—October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time for all Americans to learn about domestic violence, reflect on the costs of the violence to our society, and promote laws, policies and programs to improve services to victims, hold batterers accountable and prevent relationship violence in our communities.

During the past two decades, Missouri has made great strides in securing rights, protections and services for LGBT victims of domestic violence. Lawmakers and domestic violence advocates have worked tirelessly to criminalize domestic violence, establish Orders of Protection with criminal penalties for violations, obtain funding for domestic violence services, ensure confidentiality for the safety and dignity of victims, strengthen Child Welfare Laws to protect battered lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) victims of domestic violence and their families, and enhance penalties for offenders to match the seriousness of the crime.

Yet many domestic violence victims have not experienced the promise of such progress. We know that despite these advancements, each year, more than 50 percent of domestic violence incidents are never reported to the police according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Some victims may not recognize their experience as a crime. At times, not all protections are enforced. And, some victims may face difficulty when trying to access services.

“Behind these numbers are victims—LGBT people in our communities—who often need help and protection that they never receive,” Doug Riley, Executive Director said. “Our work continues to show that many LGBT victims are still considered invisible. It is vital that we take the time to raise awareness of domestic violence and the need for additional resources to ensure help is available to all who need it.”

Community members are encouraged to join get involved in helping victims of domestic violence. For additional information about Domestic Violence Awareness Month and additional information on domestic violence, please contact the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project at 816-561-0550 or visit the KCAVP Web site at www.kcavp.org.

KCAVP is a Missouri nonprofit corporation committed to providing services, advocacy and education for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and bias crimes within the eight counties that encompass the metropolitan Kansas City area. For more information about KCAVP, visit www.kcavp.org.