Home › GMDVP › History

HISTORY OF GMDVP

GMDVP History and Achievements

1993

• Gay male victim of domestic violence who was fleeing an attempted murder is denied access to multiple mainstream domestic violence shelters because he is a gay man.

1994

• Same victim founded GMDVP so that other gay male victims in crisis will not face similar discrimination.
  
  
• Co-founded the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Domestic Violence Coalition for agencies providing domestic violence services for GLBT people in Massachusetts.

1994 – 1996 Start-up Years

• Driven by Volunteers
  
  
• Incorporated
  
  
• Hosted Community Leaders Forum
  
  
• Prioritized Education
  
  
• Delivered keynote address at the Massachusetts District Attorneys Conference

1997 – 1998 Community Education

• Secured Small Grants & Opened Office
  
  
• Hired Education Coordinator
  
  
• Documented Prevalence
  
  
• Educated GLBT and DV Communities
  
  
• Honored as “Innovative New Program” by The United States Department of Justice and Boston Police Department
  
  
• Executive Director appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts as the first individual to represent the GLBT community on the Governor’s Commission on Domestic Violence.

1999 – 2002 Began Direct Service

• Ran Major Outdoor Media Campaign
  
  
• Initiated 24-hour Hotline
  
  
• Started First Gay Male Safe Homes
  
  
• Opened Office in Western Mass
  
  
• Created outreach materials for GLBT youth on abusive and healthy relationships.

2003 – 2006 Expansion of Services

• Opened Cape/Islands Office
  
  
• Ran 2nd Outdoor Media Campaign
  
  
• Began First/Last Month Rent Program
  
  
• Secured GLBT Attorney Program
  
  
• Persuaded State Legislature to Use Inclusive Domestic Violence Language
  
  
• Co-Authored Groundbreaking Screening Tool to Identify Victim
  
  
• Co-Founded Family Justice Center of Boston as an Original On-site Partner
  
  
• Co-Hosted First State House Public Hearing on GLBT Domestic Violence

2007 – Today

• 352 Clients in FY 06
  
  
• 450 Projected Clients in FY07
  
  
• Nine Staff/Four Offices Throughout State
  
  
• Direct Service, Education/Outreach and Policy Advocacy

Policy Advocacy

• Working with Governor’s Commission and Legislature to Ensure Inclusivity
  
  
• Working with Multiple State Agencies to Move Existing Policies to a More Inclusive Framework

Education

• Grassroots Community Organizing and Education
  
  
• Professional Training
  
  
• Major Advertising Campaigns

Direct Service

• 24-Hour Hotline
  
  
• Crisis Intervention and Support
  
  
• Support Groups
  
  
• Safe Home Placements
  
  
• Court/Police Accompaniment
  
  
• First/Last Months’ Rent Program
  
  
• Legal Representation for Victims

Since 1994, GMDVP has served more than 2,000 clients, distributed over 70,000 individual pieces of GMDVP literature, and conducted trainings and presentations for thousands