History
In the spring of 2010, Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN), Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV), and the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO) partnered to convene the first LGBTQIA+ Taskforce Against Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence. The Taskforce played a pivotal role in developing the Safe Zone curriculum, a training program that aims to reduce barriers for LGBTQIA+ individuals at mainstream violence services through training. This training currently lives with BRAVO. Additionally, the Taskforce has also played a role in coordinating community programs serving LGBTQIA+ individuals across the state. In the summer of 2025, the group transitioned into the new name of LGBTQIA+ Cooperative.
Mission Statement
The LGBTQIA+ Cooperative is made up of community members, allies, advocates, and preventionists working together to address, prevent, and raise awareness of issues of interpersonal violence within Ohio’s LGBTQIA+ communities. LGBTQIA+ survivors often face stigma, prejudice, and ignorance when seeking out services to address the violence they experience(d). With a commitment to an anti-oppressive approach, the Cooperative aims to decrease barriers for LGBTQIA+ survivors of all backgrounds who are seeking services to address and end the violence in their lives and against and within Ohio’s LGBTQIA+ communities.
Vision
Our vision is to remove barriers for LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking services and to end the ongoing violence and oppression LGBTQIA+ Ohioans face.
Goals and Objectives:
The LGBTQIA+ Cooperative brings together domestic violence and sexual assault advocates, community agencies, community members, and their allies to network and develop resources, and best practices addressing domestic violence and sexual assault in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning communities. This Cooperative will have a listserv established to assist with resource sharing and networking. Please contact a Co-Chair for information about meetings or to attend a meeting.
To provide information about interpersonal violence (including sexual violence and relationship violence) in LGBTQIA+ communities to service providers and the Ohio community at large.
To increase the capacity of advocates, preventionists, and other service providers to provide effective service and affirming support to LGBTQIA+ survivors.
To engage in training and outreach with service providers, advocates, and community-led efforts about interpersonal violence in LGBTQIA+ communities.
To facilitate the networking process between Cooperation members and appropriate agencies to form collaborative efforts to effectively serve LGBTQIA+ survivors.
Co-Chair Contacts
BRAVO | Miranda James (
mirandajames@equitashealth.com)
ODVN | Cheryl Stahl (
cheryls@odvn.org) & Rodney Nussbaum (
rodneyn@odvn.org)
OAESV | Jayvon Howard (
nlarson@oaesv.org)
To be added to the listserv, please contact Rodney ( rodneyn@odvn.org)