M E D I A   R E L E A S E For Immediate Release March 21, 2005 AVP Joins Bronx Community in Responding to Brutal Weekend Attack Says Assault is “in-line” with heightened level of danger and brutality faced by LGTB New Yorkers New York – Representatives from the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) today joined community members and other LGTB and Latino/a service providers in responding to the brutal bias-related attack on a Bronx man Saturday evening. The 35 year-old victim was walking to his home in the Kingsbridge Heights section of the Bronx when he encountered a group of neighborhood teens. The teens began verbally harassing the victim by calling him “faggot.” They then followed the victim. When the group caught up to him, they began beating him and while continuing to yell epithets. The victim received bumps, bruises and was taken to North Central Bronx Hospital; he was later released. Four suspects were charged with assault and aggravated harassment. “This case is in-line with a generally heightened level of danger and brutality being experienced by the city’s LGTB community,” said Basil Lucas, the Coordinator of AVP’s Hate Crimes and Police Relations Programs. In recent weeks, we’ve seen the brutal dismemberment murder of 19 year-old Rashawn Brazell, the dismemberment murder of Eleanor Jackson here in the Bronx, simply because her friend’s boyfriend thought she was a lesbian and carrying on an affair with his girlfriend, and now this,” said Lucas. “Unfortunately, the city’s LGTB community has been managing an incredible and sustained increase in hate violence for almost two years now; in the second half of 2003, AVP’s hate violence cases rose 43%, they have yet to decrease,” added Lucas. “Accompanying that increase was an increase in the number of perpetrators of anti-LGTB incidents that had some previous relationship with victims – a neighbor, roommate, friend, family member, etc. Such incidents rose 30% at AVP in 2004,” said Lucas. Lucas concluded by saying “We’re pleased both that the NYPD is viewing and investigating this as a hate crime, and that some of the perpetrators have been apprehended. We understand however, that there were many more than four participants in this attack and hope that the police will be able to bring all of them to justice, but the fact that young people are willing to ruin their lives because of hatred points to something very wrong and sad in our city,” concluded Lucas. In 2004, AVP served over 2,000 victims of violence. AVP’s annual reports on hate and domestic violence can be accessed online at www.avp.org. The New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) is the nation's largest service agency for victims of bias crimes against the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected communities. For nearly twenty-five years, AVP has provided counseling and advocacy for thousands of victims of bias-motivated violence as well as for survivors of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, HIV-related violence, and police misconduct. AVP documents incidents of violence against and within LGTB communities, educates the public about the effects of violence, against or within our communities, and works to reform public policies impacting all lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected people. AVP provides free and confidential assistance to crime victims through our 24-hour bilingual hotline (212-714-1141).