In 1993, a year after surviving an abusive relationship and recognizing that there was little understanding about or resources for domestic violence in LGBTQ relationships, Lavina Tomer started an LGBT Domestic Violence Project – now the SAAF Anti-Violence Project.
Since then, she has provided training on LGBTQ domestic violence and is a leading LGBTQ activist and advocate.
Lavina received the Arizona State Attorney General’s Office 2000 Distinguished Services Award and the 2000 Victim Witness Award. Currently, she serves as the volunteer Executive Director of Southern Arizona Senior Pride.
Follow Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse for more stories of influential women throughout March.
– Margaret Willard, The Arizona 100