Turning Stalking Survival Into Systemic Change
Written with permission from Lenora Claire
During National Stalking Awareness Month, the Gabby Petito Foundation is honored to spotlight advocates who have transformed personal harm into protection for others. Lenora Claire is one of those advocates.
Described by VICE as “the Erin Brockovich of stalking,” Lenora did not originally set out to become an advocate. She spent much of her career as a well-known Los Angeles casting director and art curator, deeply rooted in the creative community. That work led to her being named one of the LA Weekly “People of the Year” in 2011.
Not long after, Lenora was targeted by a stalker with a documented history of fixation and violence. She sought help through traditional channels and quickly learned how limited those protections could be. When accountability failed, she taught herself how to reduce risk, document behavior, and advocate for her own safety, and when even that was not enough, she made the deliberate decision to use her platform to go public.
That choice changed everything.
By sharing her story, Lenora helped expose the gaps stalking victims face every day - from enforcement failures to the emotional toll of being disbelieved or minimized. She refused to let stalking be treated as a lesser harm.
As her story reached wider audiences, her advocacy extended far beyond her own case. Survivors began reaching out to her because she understood the reality they were living. She shared her knowledge, helped them navigate the system, and showed up to court to stand beside them.
Lenora took her advocacy into the justice system, becoming a founding member of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Crime Victims Advisory Board, helping shape policy responses for victims of gender-based violence and stalking. She worked alongside Adam Schiff on proposed legislation aimed at closing dangerous legal gaps - including efforts to create a national stalker registry and allow restraining orders to be served electronically, addressing delays that can place victims at risk. Her work has also involved sharing survivor-informed recommendations at the federal level, including with the White House in 2024, to strengthen protections for stalking victims nationwide.
At the same time, Lenora was changing another system that often retraumatizes survivors: media. Through Lenora Claire Consulting, she pioneered the role of an on-set survivor liaison, ensuring safety, consent, and trauma-informed practices during true crime and documentary productions. What began as a protective measure for survivors became a national standard - one that bridges ethical storytelling with advocacy and accountability.
Lenora’s work has reached millions through public speaking, media engagement, and survivor education, all despite the ongoing presence of her own stalker, a reality many victims know all too well.
On January 20, 2026, Lenora will be honored with the Peggy Klinke Award from the Stalking Prevention Awareness and Resource Center (SPARC). The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to stalking prevention and survivor support, and it is presented during National Stalking Awareness Month to honor the legacy of Peggy Klinke, whose life was taken by a stalker in 2003. The award is a reminder that progress is built by survivors who refuse to be silent and by advocates who insist that systems do better.
Lenora told the Gabby Petito Foundation, “It’s hard to articulate how meaningful receiving this honor from the wonderful people at SPARC is. As a survivor, it’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to be here. While I will never reverse the ways this crime has impacted all areas of my life, being able to be of service to others gives me purpose and hope. Building community and offering support is a beautiful thing. I’ve seen some incredible change since I began this work. It’s never fast enough, but all of it matters.
“I don’t think we can talk about this award without mentioning both Peggy Klinke and her sister Debbie Riddle. Peggy is a very real reminder that what happened to her could be any of us, and we must never ignore the severity of this threat. Debbie’s activism on behalf of her sister’s memory is beyond inspirational. I just love Debbie so much. She blazed the path for this kind of advocacy and it’s very special to help continue to carry that torch.”
At the Gabby Petito Foundation, we know that awareness alone is not enough. Change happens when survivors are believed, when systems evolve, and when advocates like Lenora Claire push relentlessly for accountability, safety, and dignity. Her work has helped reshape how stalking is understood, addressed, and prevented - and her impact continues to protect survivors across the country.
This month, we honor Lenora not just for what she has endured, but for what she has built - and for the lives that are safer because she chose to speak.
If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, visit stalkingawareness.org for resources and guidance.
You can follow Lenora on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lenoraclaire/?hl=en
