August 28, 2009

SMYAL Condemns Attack on Transgender Youth and Urges Community Members to Attend Candlelight Vigil Tonight

The Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) condemned the August 26, 2009 attack on two individuals which left one, a 21-year-old transgender woman, dead and another in the hospital in critical condition. While details in the investigation are still developing, SMYAL expressed sadness over the violence and loss of life and urged community members to participate in a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the attack. The vigil, organized by Transgender Health Empowerment (T.H.E.) will take place at 6:30 pm Friday, August 28, 2009 at the site of the incident (209 Q Street, NW).

Andrew Barnett, SMYAL's Executive Director, said, "On behalf of SMYAL, I express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims of this vicious attack. This attack is only the most recent of many on some of the most vulnerable members of our community: our LGBT youth. I urge anyone who has information about the attack to come forward to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

"I urge all LGBT young people affected by this senseless tragedy and the anti-LGBT violence that occurs every day in our community to join us at SMYAL tonight at 5:00 pm before the vigil. We will be offering a safe space to share our memories of those we've lost to violence and posting a mural to write our thoughts, reflections, and good-bye's."

SMYAL's Youth Center will be open from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm on Friday, August 28th before the vigil and will continue to display a mural for youth to reflect on the attack through Friday, September 4th.
 
SMYAL is located at 410 7th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 near the Eastern Market metro station. For more information about SMYAL programs, visit http://www.smyal.org/ 

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Washington Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099 or text anonymous tips to 50411.