An Interview with Joey O’Bryan of Alternatives to Violence

Creating Space for Truth and Safety

When Joey O’Bryan, Non-Residential Case Manager at Alternatives to Violence (ATV), stepped up to the microphone at a high-end art gallery event, he knew the room wasn’t expecting to talk about domestic violence. Yet Joey knew the importance of showing up for these moments, especially for voices often left out of the dialogue. With his signature mix of honesty and warmth, Joey opened the evening with, “I get that you might not want to talk about this or open the evening this way.” The room quieted. Then, Joey began speaking openly about domestic violence, specifically its impact on LGBTQ+ communities. His message was compassionate, clear, and deeply necessary: “The only way to destigmatize this is to talk about it openly, without watering down the substance.” The result? A standing ovation.

LGBTQ+ Survivors Deserve More

Joey’s work focuses on building space where LGBTQ+ survivors feel seen, heard, and safe. This year, he is helping launch the Family Justice Center’s LGBTQ+ support group, a new effort aimed at providing healing, visibility, and peer connection. “LGBTQ+ survivors face unique challenges, being outed, not being believed, or having to educate providers just to get help,” Joey explains. “Creating a space that’s explicitly for them sends the message: you belong here, and you deserve safety.”

Barriers, Bias, and the Need for Representation

Joey has seen firsthand how intimate partner violence impacts LGBTQ+ people in ways that are often misunderstood or minimized. They may face threats tied to their identity or be dismissed because their relationships are viewed as less valid. These experiences are compounded by systems that have historically failed to serve LGBTQ+ communities. For Joey, representation is key: “When someone walks in and sees people who understand their experience, that can be the beginning of real healing.”

The Family Justice Center: Coming 2025

Opening in 2025, the Family Justice Center will be a centralized hub where survivors can access therapy, legal support, law enforcement, and advocacy, all under one roof. For clients who currently navigate appointments across several towns, this model is a lifeline. “So many survivors are juggling work, court, kids, and housing,” Joey says. “This center removes barriers. It makes help easier to access, and that changes lives.”

Support the Mission

ATV serves over 1,600 people every year and continues to grow to meet the needs of all survivors. With your help, they can keep building spaces where healing, and justice, are possible.

Want to support ATV’s work?
• Volunteer—just like Joey once did, and maybe you’ll discover a new path too.
• Donate—every dollar helps ATV meet real needs, including emergency relocations and unexpected gaps in grant funding.
• Attend a fundraiser—like Pastels on 5th in Loveland, held the second Saturday of September.