Why are Santa Monica lanterns glowing purple?

In recognition of Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month during October, the City of West Hollywood will, throughout the month, focus awareness efforts on highlighting the impact of domestic violence/intimate partner violence in the LGBTQ community and through the lens of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) and will share information and resources with the community about intimate partner violence.

The globe lanterns above Santa Monica Boulevard between N. Robertson Boulevard and Hancock Avenue in the City of West Hollywood will glow in purple through Oct. 10 in recognition of Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in the United States, more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence annually. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines receive more than 20,000 calls, an average of close to 15 calls every minute.

Domestic violence is prevalent in every community and affects all people regardless of age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Domestic violence, also referred to as intimate partner violence, which is abuse or aggression that occurs in a romantic relationship. It occurs in same- and opposite-sex relationships, and among those who are married, in long-term, and short-term relationships. Domestic violence can take many forms; in addition to physical abuse, it can include sexual abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, controlling behaviors, isolating behaviors, and economic abuse. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime. About 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domestic violence can occur in LGBTQ relationships at rates equal to or even greater to that of cisgender/heterosexual relationships. Statistics indicate that:

• 44 percent of lesbians, 61 percent of bisexual women and 35 percent of heterosexual women experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetimes;
• 26 percent of gay men, 37 percent of bisexual men and 29 percent of heterosexual men experience rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetimes; and
• The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey found that more than half (54 percent) of transgender and non-binary respondents experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetimes.

The following resources are listed on the City’s website at www.weho.org/lgbtq

If you or someone you care about has been a victim of domestic violence/intimate partner violence, sexual assault or stalking, there are resources to help:

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website at https://ncadv.org offers comprehensive information about warning signs of domestic violence and abuse.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline website at www.thehotline.org offers immediate help 24/7/365 via the “chat now” button on the website or by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting LOVEIS to 22522, and for people who are Deaf/hard of hearing: 1-855-812-1011 (VP) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

Immediate help is also available via the Los Angeles County DV Hotline 24 hours day by contacting 1-800-978-3600.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center offers domestic violence/partner abuse counseling services geared toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities by contacting (323) 993-7649.

Jewish Family Service LA’s “ JFS Hope” domestic violence services provides compassionate, personalized services to survivors of domestic violence through a trauma-informed lens. All services are free of charge and offered in English and Spanish. JFS Hope offers domestic violence counseling and support, and runs 2 emergency shelters and one transitional shelter. They also offer two 24-hour domestic violence crisis lines: 818-505-0900 and 323-681-2626. More information can be found at www.jfsla.org.

Peace Over Violence provides one-on-one intervention in sexual assaults, domestic abuse, youth violence, and child abuse by contacting the 24-hour hotline (310) 392-8381.

Love Is Respect National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline provides 24/7 intimate partner violence help and support to young people between the ages of 13 and 26 by contacting 1-866-331-9474; TTY 1-866-331-8453 or text LOVEIS to 22522.

The SPCA-LA Animal Safety Net provides temporary homes for pets of domestic violence survivors by contacting 1-888-527-7722.

For more information about Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month, please contact City of West Hollywood Community Programs Coordinator Larissa Fooks at (323) 848-6413 or [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.