CCSi News & Information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information, Contact:
September 2, 2008 Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer
PIO#321-08/jlh 703.838.5078 or
jennifer.harris@alexandriava.gov

Olympic Diving Champion Greg Louganis to Appear in Alexandria October 3
Four-Time Gold Medal Winner Speaks About His Triumph over Intimate Partner
Abuse

The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program and Sexual Assault Response and
Awareness Program invite the public to a special evening on Friday, October
3 to hear Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis speak about his experience of
surviving domestic violence. Many remember Louganis’ amazing athletic
achievements, but few are aware he is a survivor of intimate partner
violence.

This free event will be held at the Hilton Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road.
The evening begins with a silent auction and hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m.,
followed by the program at 7 p.m. Free parking will be available in the
hotel garage.

"Intimate partner violence happens more than we want to admit, and,
unfortunately, it happens as often in gay and lesbian relationships as it
does in heterosexual relationships,” says Louganis. “I hope that my story
will raise awareness about violence in the community and signal to everyone
that we need to work together to end the violence.”

Louganis is best known for winning back-to-back Olympic titles in both the
3- and 10-meter diving events. In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Louganis
won gold medals in both the springboard and tower diving events and
repeated the achievement in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. In 1995, his
autobiography, Breaking the Surface, was published; in it, Louganis
revealed publicly the domestic abuse and rape he suffered and that he is
HIV-positive.

The event is being coordinated by the Alexandria Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) Victim Services Advisory Board,
sponsored by the Alexandria Domestic Violence Intervention Project, and
supported by grant funding from the federal Office on Violence Against
Women and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Victim Fund.
Support is available to LGBTQ survivors of sexual or domestic violence
24-hours a day; the Domestic Violence Hotline is 703.838.4911 and the
Sexual Violence Hotline is 703.683.7273. For general information, please
visit www.alexwomen.com or call 703.838.5030.

www.alexandriava.gov