Statement by NYS Senator Hoylman on Wave of Anti-LGBT Violence

In the wake of the apparent hate-motivated killing of a gay man in Greenwich Village early in the morning on May 18 and four other apparent anti-LGBT hate crimes in Manhattan over the prior two weeks, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman released the following statement:

New York State Senator Brad Hoylman (D, WFP – Manhattan) said: “I am outraged by the recent wave of anti-LGBT violence in our City and it is shocking and extremely distressing that a man was shot to death just this morning apparently because he was gay. Nobody anywhere should have to live with fear of harm because of his or her sexual orientation. It is particularly upsetting that recent anti-LGBT incidents have occurred in neighborhoods in my district on the West Side of Manhattan, home to many members of our community. I applaud the NYPD for making a swift arrest in this case and call on all New Yorkers to unite against hate and gun violence.”

Senator Hoylman provided the following timeline of suspected hate crimes against LGBT victims in Manhattan since May 5:

May 5:
Four men allegedly shouted anti-gay slurs as they attacked Nick Porto and Kevin Atkins near Madison Square Garden

May 7:
A man was assaulted in Union Square by another man who allegedly used anti-gay slurs.

May 8:
Two men reportedly shouted anti-gay slurs as they attacked a man who was leaving Pieces bar on Christopher Street

May 9:
Two gay men were attacked by a group of other men allegedly shouting anti-gay slurs near the 33rd Street PATH Station. Port Authority police officers quickly arrested two of the suspected perpetrators.

May 18:
A gay man was shot to death by another man who allegedly assailed the victim and another gay man with homophobic slurs and chased them out of a pizzeria on Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village before the shooting.

May 20:
A gay man was jumped and beaten at Avenue D and East 4th Street by at least one other man who allegedly hurled anti-gay slurs. 

May 21:
Two men were reportedly injured in an attack in which anti-gay slurs were allegedly used. 

May 25:
Two men leaving a club on 42nd Street near 8th Avenue were attacked by a group of teenagers allegedly yelling homophobic slurs.

May 28:
A gay man was attacked by two men allegedly yelling homophobic slurs outside 119 MacDougal Street.

Senator Hoylman urges anyone with additional information about any of these or other attacks to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.