City Condemns Incident Of Transgender Violence And Intimidation On West Hollywood Boulevard In Los Angeles

Press release from the City of West Hollywood:

August 19, 2020

The

City of West Hollywood condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the latest incident of violence, harassment, and intimidation of Transgender community members, which occurred earlier this week in the Hollywood area of the City of Los Angeles.

“The City of West Hollywood has been made aware of an incident being investigated as a possible hate crime against members of the Transgender community this past Monday in Hollywood. The images in videos of the event posted online are alarming — especially as bystanders did nothing to help these victims. Let’s be extremely clear: as a community we must rise up against hate in all of its forms,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey P. Horvath. “The City of West Hollywood is steadfast and passionate about supporting Transgender and gender non-conforming people. The City is outraged by the disproportionate impact of discrimination and violence experienced by Transgender and gender non-conforming people and our City is deeply committed to amplifying voices, to raising awareness, and to creating spaces for education and empowerment. People in the Transgender community are, unfortunately, very often the victims of violence and hate and we must stand shoulder-to-shoulder and say, ‘enough!’ We thank Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell for opening this investigation. I urge anyone who has any information about the perpetrator of this hate crime to come forward immediately.”

The City of West Hollywood is urging members of the public to assist the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in identifying a man who harassed and robbed a group of transgender women in an incident being investigated by LAPD as a hate crime. On Monday, August 17, 2020 at approximately 2:15 a.m., the suspect approached the victims and offered to buy them merchandise at a store on the 6500 block of Hollywood Boulevard. The suspect refused to pay for their merchandise and the victims left. Later, the suspect approached one of the victims with a metal bar and demanded her shoes and bracelet. In fear, the victim complied, the suspect grabbed her by the hand, and they walked together for a short distance before she was able to escape. A short time later, the suspect assaulted one of the original victim’s friends with a bottle and knocked her to the ground. Both victims are transgender women, and the suspect made derogatory remarks about their status during the crime.

The LAPD describes the suspect as a 25-year-old male, Black, black hair, brown eyes, standing at 6-feet-tall, and weighing approximately 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black tank-top and black shorts. (Photo of the suspect is posted in the LAPD press release viewable at: http://www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/news_view/66821.) Community members with information are asked to call the LAPD Hollywood Area Robbery Detective Stogner at (213) 972-2934. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

The City of West Hollywood has been one of the most outspoken cities in the nation in advocating for the legal rights of LGBTQ people. More than 40 percent of residents in the City of West Hollywood identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The City of West Hollywood is one of the first municipalities to form a Transgender Advisory Board, which addresses matters of advocacy on behalf of transgender people in the areas of education, community awareness, and empowerment, and makes recommendations to the West Hollywood City Council. As part of its support of the transgender community, the City of West Hollywood has a Transgender Resource Guide available on the City’s website, which provides information about a variety of resources including legal, health, and social services, available in the Greater Los Angeles area to enhance and improve the well-being of transgender people.

This press release was produced by the City of West Hollywood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.