NBC news reports that a 32-year-old transgender woman was assaulted Saturday in a convenience-store parking lot in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Natatia Bledsoe, a spokeswoman for the city police department, explained that the victim testified to being taunted about her sexual orientation during the beating by three suspects, including one, Laqueta Webb, who is now in custody.
The victim told police that she was walking outside the 7-Eleven Saturday afternoon when the suspects approached her. She claims they surrounded her and then began beating her with their feet and fists, as well as a metal broom handle. The victim sustained injuries to her face and hands but is currently undergoing no medical treatment.
Several passers-by witnessed the incident and came to the victim’s aid after the attack.
Even if the victim is able to prove that her status as a transgender person incited the attack, any charges brought against her assailants will not be affected. Virginia’s current hate-crime laws do not include language pertaining to sexual orientation and LGBT discrimination.
Hello all, I’ve been covering this story since it broke on Monday morning. The victim is scared for her safety, noting that many of the attackers came from her own neighborhood. She also reports to police that she had been taunted over her gender identity in the past in her neighborhood. Here’s a link to the latest story I have on it: http://patch.com/A-hF2C