Hours after thousands of local advocates, including GLAAD, marched through New York City's West Village in response to the recent series of alleged anti-LGBT attacks, and to mourn the murder of an openly gay man of color, more attacks have been reported.
Early on Tuesday morning, in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood, reports say that two men were walking down the street when another two men approached them shouting anti-gay slurs. The victims were both punched, with one suffering an eye injury. Police arrested the suspects, who face charges of assault as a hate crime.
In another incident that occurred in Manhattan's East Village, a man was attacked by an assailant allegedly yelling anti-gay slurs while beating and kicking the victim. Police are determining whether to investigate the assault as a hate crime.
The Anti-Violence Project, which regularly monitors reports of anti-LGBT crimes, is working with New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the NYPD, and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office to address these recent incidents. AVP is also investigating the possibility of another anti-LGBT attack on a transgender woman in Queens.
According to NBC New York, police say there has been a rise this year in anti-LGBT crimes, from 14 to 21, compared to the same period last year. GLAAD will continue to monitor media coverage of these incidents and raise awareness of any updates.