Transgender person assaulted, teen investigated for hate crime

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/archives/170764.asp

A group of teens beat a transgender person and threatened to kill her Saturday on Rainier Avenue, according to Seattle police.

The person, who told police she is in the process of changing her name and appearance to a woman, reported she was attacked by a group of teens at the bus stop at Rainier and South Mount Baker Boulevard.

A teenage boy was arrested and booked into the Youth Service Center for investigation of robbery and felony malicious harassment, the state's hate crime law, according to police.

Unfortunately this sort of activity may never stop. Even though a hate crime is a very serious offense it's always too late for the victim. The only solution is to watch our surroundings and try to travel in a group. At least two. I only go out alone during day light hours and if after dark stay in public view. I spent many years in a third world banana republic and it was well known that there is safety in numbers. Most people are not transphobic but it only takes one. Many times their "homeys" follow along to be accepted. One of the primary needs of humans is validation and some validate their existence through viloence. e.g. Allowing ones self to be beaten in order to be accepted into a gang. What in the hell is going on here!