AVP learns of back to back anti-LGBTQ incidents in Queens; our work is not done.
On Sunday, June 3, 25 year-old elementary school teacher Brandon Soriano was enjoying the Queens Pride festivities. At around 10 pm, he decided to pick up some food before heading home. It was then Soriano heard someone yell an anti-gay slur, right before being physically attacked by a group of men until he became unconscious.
Five days later, a transgender woman was stabbed five times by a man just a few blocks away from where Soriano was attacked. Because of she is undocumented, transgender, and a sex worker, she is afraid to report the crime to authorities. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reported in its 2016 Hate Violence Report there was a 53% decrease over the last two years in survivors interacting with the police because of fear of bias, discrimination, and violence if they were to reach out to them.
TAKE ACTION
- Join us this evening in Jackson Heights to rally to end violence against Trans and Queer communities.
And you can always:
- Report violence you experience or witness to AVP.
- If you know someone who is an LGBTQ survivor of violence who is experiencing trauma or fear as a result of these recent actions, encourage them to contact AVP’s confidential 24-hour English/Spanish hotline at (212) 714-1141. They will be connected with a counselor who understands the ways this political climate is affecting our communities.
- Get involved – volunteer with AVP!
- Support AVP: Give now to ensure our voices are heard