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Aug. 20 - Aug. 26, 2021
LGBTQ members speak out against
recent acts of violence in Queens
BY JULIA MORO
LGBTQ residents shared
their stories of recent transphobic
violence while demanding
an end to the attacks at the
Manuel de Dios Unanue Triangle,
also known as the Lorena
Borjas Triangle, in Elmhurst
on Wednesday, Aug. 11.
Six trans and gender nonconforming
community members
were assaulted over the
last two weeks in Queens
and Brooklyn, according to
organizers with Make the
Road New York (MRNY), an
organization working to uplift
immigrant and working-class
communities.
Survivors, organizers and
community leaders demanded
an end to the recent homophobic
and transphobic violence,
suggesting the NYPD budget be
spent on de-escalation training
in neighborhoods across the
city. Jennifer, a trans woman
and Queens resident, spoke
about being assaulted this past
weekend while she and her
friends waited for a taxi.
“We were attacked by a man
who threw rocks and glass
bottles at us,” Jennifer said. “I
ran away but fell down, and the
man continued to attack me. I
tried to fight to save my life and
ended up with a broken arm. It
is outrageous that trans women
Assembly member Catalina Cruz was shocked by Jennifer’s story. Photo by Dean Moses
are the target of transphobic attacks
just because of who we
are and how we look.”
MRNY member and
community activist Bianey
Garcia said the police are at
fault for failing to protect their
community.
“The police do not prevent
any of the attacks on our community,
and in fact, cause more
damage and trauma to those
who have survived violence in
our neighborhoods,” Garcia
said.“We need New York City
to invest in community education
programs to reduce, deescalate
and prevent violence
against transgender, non-conforming,
non-binary and queer
communities in order to create
safer neighborhoods.”
The NYPD did not immediately
respond to QNS’ request
for comment before press time.
The organizers were joined
by state Senator Jessica Ramos
and state Assembly members
Catalina Cruz and Jessica
González-Rojas.
Ramos chanted “trans power”
at the presser, saying the
violence facing this community
is tragic.
“What is true is our advocacy
for more resources in order
to combat the hate that has perpetrated
on our streets and results
in traumatizing violence
against our neighbors,” Ramos
said.
Ramos called for more effective
education and a curriculum
that is more inclusive to
every person.
”It’s not enough to build a
more tolerant society; we need
a society that respects each and
every human being regardless
of who they love or their gender
expression and regardless of
how they identify,” Ramos said.
The most recent city budget
included a $2 million increase
forLGBTQ-inclusive curriculum,
which is up from $800,000
last year for a total of $2.8 million.
According to the budget,
the funding will “support the
needs of LGBTQ youth and address
the intersectionality of
race, sexual orientation and
gender identity through the
Department of Education’s
(DOE) general curriculum.”
A trans advocate, who was
not named at the presser, said
the violence disproportionately
hits transgender sex workers
— but their concerns are often
dismissed by authorities.
“We don’t need blood to
demonstrate the violence in
our streets,” they said. “We’re
human beings. We don’t need
blood to show that we exist.”
Additional reporting by
Dean Moses and Tat Bellamy-
Walker.
Vol. 9, No. 34 44 total pages
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