The City of West Hollywood and the Los Angeles LGBT Center have issued statements condemning the assault of three transgender women on Hollywood Boulevard this past weekend. Those assaulted were Eden Estrada, who is known as Eden the Doll and is a YouTube celebrity, and her friends Jaslene White Rose and Joslyn Flawless. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation not only has condemned the attacks, but also organized a demonstration against them on Hollywood Boulevard on Thursday night.
“The City of West Hollywood has been made aware of an incident being investigated as a possible hate crime against members of the transgender community on Monday in Hollywood. The images in videos of the event posted online are alarming — especially as bystanders did nothing to help these victims. Let’s be extremely clear: as a community we must rise up against hate in all of its forms,” said West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath. “The City of West Hollywood is steadfast and passionate about supporting transgender and gender non-conforming people.
In her statement, Terra Russell Slavin, director of policy and community building for the Los Angeles LGBT Center, also ’s Director of Policy and Community Building, said:
“The recent brutal attack in Hollywood of three transgender women is yet another reminder of the pervasive violence facing the trans community, especially trans women of color. These women deserve justice. We call on the LAPD and prosecutors to act quickly to ensure that this case is investigated as a hate crime.”
The Los Angeles Police Department has launched an investigation into the attack, which occurred around 2:15 a.m. on Monday while Estrada and friends were waiting for an Uber ride. The prime suspect is a young man who came up to the three friends on the sidewalk on the 6500 block of Hollywood Boulevard and, after an argument, approached Joslyn Flawless with a crow bar and forced her to surrender her shoes and her jewelry. He knocked White Rose to the ground. Others on the scene laughed during the attacks and made derogatory remarks and one, known on Instagram as @stevofilmz actually filmed the attacks.
The LAPD describes the suspect as a 25-year-old Black man who is six-feet-tall and weighs about 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black tank-top and black shorts. Anyone with information about the man is asked to call the LAPD Hollywood Division at (213) 972-2934. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) 527-3247. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.
