Carmella Etienne, a transgender female, alleges she was hit by rocks and a beer bottle in Queens earlier this week. She had to be treated at the hospital for a large cut on her leg. The men also allegedly shouted anti-gay slurs and threatened to kill her by cutting her throat. Both harassing men were arrested at the scene and are being held on $5,000 bail and will go to court on July 23. They could face up to 15 years in jail if they are convicted. Via NY Daily News:
“Etienne is now afraid to leave her home.
‘The law will hopefully put them to justice. I love being myself,’ she said.
The attack comes on the heels of another one on a transgender woman. Leslie Mora was assaulted with a belt buckle in Jackson Heights last month by two men. Prosecutors haven’t determined if they will pursue hate crime charges.
‘There’s mounting concern in the community and anger at the violence and prejudice,’ said Brendan Fay, a leader in the LGBT community in Queens. ‘Clearly these aren’t isolated incidents.'”
How horrible 🙁
Golden Silence says
Good that the men who attacked her were arrested on the spot, but not good that she had to go through that ordeal.