3/13/13

Militant March Protesting Death Of Transsexual Kayla Moore While In Police Custody

A large group of LGBT activists strode down the middle of Berkeley streets, enraged that one month has passed and still no statement from police detailing exactly who or what killed trans person Kayla Moore while she was in police custody.

Update 3/17 STILL NO new information offered at the police commissioner's regular meeting. How long is since she died while in police custody, a month, almost two?

Anonymous Queers in action angry that the police have only offered a vague statement
believe they are responsible for Moore's death, repeatedly taunted the police. The Berkeley police have announced the will Review the facts Wensday night.





Three Charged With Assault and discriminatory harassment of Trans Person in Silver Springs Md


Downtown Silver Springs is a dangerous place. There have been five assaults since March 1st within walking distance of the location a trans woman was beaten March 5th.

Source Silver Spring Patch: Hate crime charges are pending on three men who are accused of beating and kicking a transgendered person and a friend, according to a report from Montgomery County police's 3rd District.

"The victim told police that he and a friend were followed by a group of four people while walking near the intersection of Colesville Road and Ramsey Avenue in downtown Silver Spring around 2:35 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5. The suspects made comments about the victims' sexuality before assaulting the two, according to police."

"The suspects ran away when a bystander tried to help the victims, police said."

"Preliminary charges include three counts of assault and two counts of discriminatory harassment. A 21-year-old male from Baltimore and two men from Washington, DC, ages 22 and 28 were charged in the assault. Read more at : Silver Spring Patch.

3/12/13

Petition: Spain Stop The Deportation Of YASIRA, MUJER TRANSEXUAL PANAMEÑA

Spain's Ministry of the Interior has denied asylum to Yasira, a transsexual's 29 years old, whom the police of Panama stopped for the first time when she was just 17 years old. It was the year 2000, agents pepper sprayed her, threw her to the ground and kicked, subjected her to electric shocks... She was locked up two weeks. Until her mother paid for it a 300 euro fine and was released. Her only crime was being born male and go down the street dressed as a woman, something that is forbidden in this Central American country.

El Ministerio del Interior ha denegado el asilo a Yasira, una transexual de 29 años a quien la Policía de Panamá detuvo por primera vez cuando apenas tenía 17 años. Era el año 2000, y los agentes la rociaron con gas pimienta, la tiraron al suelo y le dieron patadas, la sometieron a descargas eléctricas... Estuvo encerrada dos semanas. Hasta que su madre pagó por ella una multa de 300 euros y quedó en libertad. Su único delito era haber nacido hombre e ir por la calle vestida de mujer, algo que está prohibido en este país centroamericano.

Agents arrested Yasira and forced her to have sexual intercourse. She insists that it is not prostitute - she was beaten on the head with a stick and they threatened her. She was arrested and imprisoned several times. She was also raped by other inmates in prison.

Los agentes detenían a Yasira y la obligaban a mantener relaciones sexuales. Ella insiste en que no es prostituta–, la golpeaban en la cabeza con un palo y la amenazaban. Fue arrestada y encarcelada varias veces. En la prisión también fue violada por otros reclusos.

In 2008, she began activism in the LGBT movement and participated in a demonstration "against the trans discrimination" that was harshly suppressed by police. To Yasira also people in their neighborhood, and street gangs, who stabbed her and stole insulted her. Even on three occasions attempted to commit suicide

En 2008, comenzó a militar en el movimiento LGTB y participó en una manifestación "contra la discriminación trans" que fue duramente reprimida por la policía. A Yasira también la insultaban los vecinos de su barrio, y las bandas callejeras, que la apuñalaron y robaron. Hasta en tres ocasiones se intentó suicidar.

A few days ago she decided to flee. The situation "was unsustainable in Panama." Yasira arrived at the airport of Barajas (Madrid) last day 7 and requested asylum for persecution in their country because of their sexual identity. The request was denied, as well as the protect that asked his lawyer to paralyze the expulsion. Wednesday morning, at 1150 hours, will be deported and sent back to Panama.

Hace unos días decidió huir. La situación "era insostenible en Panamá". Yasira llegó al aeropuerto de Barajas (Madrid) el pasado día 7 y pidió asilo por persecución en su país debido a su identidad sexual. La solicitud fue denegada, al igual que la cautelarísima que solicitó su abogada para paralizar la expulsión. Mañana miércoles, a las 11.50 horas, será deportada y enviada de vuelta a Panamá.

And that of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a favorable report that they admitted to processing asylum request

Y eso que el Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados (Acnur) emitió un informe favorable para que se admitiera a trámite la petición de asilo.

"Yasira has been victim of abuse, coercion, threats, and physical and sexual assaults by the police authorities of his country on numerous occasions in the past 13 years, as well as social discrimination," denounces Paloma Favières

"Yasira ha sido víctima de abusos, coacciones, amenazas y agresiones físicas y sexuales por parte de las autoridades policiales de su país en numerosas ocasiones en los últimos 13 años, así como de discriminación social", denuncia Paloma Favieres.

Please sign the petition Jorge Fernández Díaz, Ministro del Interior de España: STOP DEPORTACIÓN YASIRA, MUJER TRANSEXUAL PANAMEÑA.




Watch: SNL Trans Parody with Justin Timberlake "She's Got A Dick"

"She's got a dick", another SNL skit skating on the thin ice of trans sensitives. Is this as bad as the extremely offensive Estromax skit? Well, they pushed Timberlake across this untried ice. Funny or Fail?



I started to condemn it after the initial reveal and following yeeewww, but then I find myself laughing. Go after her you big lug! And if she still turns you down you know where I live!

Comedy that's romantic trans commentary opens doors to us, making our somewhat unique physical condition not so unusual. My opinion? it's endearing. Funny. I Love it.





3/11/13

Demand The Turkish Government, The UNHCR and Taksim Police Address Transphobic Human Rights abuses


Text from the petition begun by the international group Wipe Out Transphobia calling on the worldwide trans community to stand with our Turkish family.

"The transgender* human rights record for Turkey is only second to Brazil. In the past 12 months 4 trans woman (travesti) in Istanbul have been brutally murdered. The last murder was less then a week ago and the victim (name yet to be released) passed away in hospital on the same day as a protest rally protesting the eviction of 20 trans woman from their group houses in the Mis area of Istanbul Turkey."

"Currently Turkey is a signatory to the UN however has been refused EU stais due to poor human rights record. We would like to shine a spotlight on Turkey's poor human rights record not only for trans people but the wider GLBTI communities."

:The Taksim Police in particularly have been instrumental in keeping this poor human rights record at an all time low and should be made accountable on the world stage."

please sign and share far and wide...

El Paso's New Non Discrimination Policy Is Nothing New

May 11th voters in El Paso will go to the polls to decide if the city's employees fair treatment policy should migrate from city ordinance to become part of it's charter. Most Texan cities have accomplished this step in one form or another, but there are opponents to this move in El Paso.

The council of churches have been very vocal in there opposition citing these three reasons, warning of terrible consequences should this 'new' amendment be approved:

1. "Immutability". The Council says because ones sexual affinity may change during ones life time affording a person who is attracted to the same sex equality is unreasonable and unfair.

2. "Freedom of Speech". The council isn't concerned about there right to say what they want inside there churches. They are worried if a person attacks a LGBT person verbally while on the the towns time that person could be disciplined.

3. "Privacy": "We are also concerned that men who claim to be transsexuals, whether true or not, could use the amendment to enter the women's restrooms on city grounds."

I will address each of the Council of Churches concerns.

1. The Council of churches has stated in so many words that they are opposed to homosexuals if nothing more than the fact they are homosexual. And yes there are bisexual transsexuals myself being one. I have a reasonable expectation of fair treatment regardless of whether I am dating a man or a woman just like a purely homosexual or hetroesexual person does.

2. By admitting your concerns your freedom to intimidate in the workplace may be curtailed you have made a best case for protecting our minority.

3. The bathroom meme is a fallacy, a disproved fear mongering tactic. There has never been a case where a pervert stated in a court of law, he felt empowered when before he didn't by a ordnance affording public accommodations provisions to transgender people. Ever.

Furthermore good council of churches, the amendment makes no mention of public accommodations. This just Fear mongering in its purest sense.


Incredibly given the council of Church's dire warnings the sky hasn't already fallen.

El Paso's city Trans employees have been enjoyed equal opportunities since 2006 and people in domestic partnerships have been receiving benefits since 2011, the same ones that this amendment will codify.

I asked El Paso Council member Susie Byrd if LGBT people are already were covered by the city, then why a vote? Council woman Byrd explained "we are asking the voters to make fair treatment of all people, not just LGBT folks, part of our cities charter insuring this practice continues"

But not everyone is please especially an affiliate of the infamous alliance defending freedom Pastor Brown who's church's anti LGBT political activities were investigated by the DA in 2011.

Click Here To Watch Video

Pastor Brown told Fox News in this interview "We don't think people that practice homosexual sex need government endorsement or governmental protections as a class."

Brown says because the amendment includes transsexuals that woman would lose there privacy "Men who claim to be transsexual whether they are or not, can go into a women's restroom and we don't think thats right."

El Paso council member Susie Byrd responded to Brown: "I think that pastor Brown has a unique obsession which creates a lot of odd delusional thinking."

She says the amendment basically says you can't discriminate based on sexual orientation.

Please register to vote here!



3/10/13

2nd Casting Call For the Erotic Trans Doc "Doing It Again"

[text from the website] Please help spread the word – we're doing a second round of casting for the erotic documentary Doing it Again specifically looking to cast scenes of trans women with trans partners. We're looking for couples, friends, fuckbuddies, and individuals willing to be paired with someone – yes that includes trans men applying individually!

(If you’ve already applied before, please see the note at the top of the new casting call for what this means for you).

Anyone who is trans can apply but we’re specifically trying to get more submissions from:
* Trans Men – as a part of a relationship or individually to be paired with a trans woman.
* People of color
* People in existing relationships (especially long term)
* People over 40
* People in or near Washington DC, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland


We are especially looking for:
* People of color,
* People over 40
* Trans men
* People in mid to long term relationships

(Note about genderqueers: Trans folks who are genderqueer are certainly welcome to apply for this volume, but be aware that there is a separate volume specifically around genderqueer identity, that this volume will not discuss genderqueer identity in detail, and as a side effect there is a risk you will be read as having a binary gender identity. Please gauge your own comfort level with this.)


WHAT PARTICIPATION ENTAILS?

Participation will include both an interview about your experience of relationship and hookup dynamics and unscripted sexual activity in whatever form that sexual activity takes in your life. If possible, this will be broken up into two shoots, each taking approximately 1 to 3 hours of time (including setup, paperwork, etc). You will be compensated $200 for participating in this project. You must be 18 years of age or older and have photo identification.

People are encourage to apply as a pair or triad (whether they are partners, lovers, friends with benefits, etc.), however, there is a limited ability to pair individuals who apply individually with others who apply individually. Please note that if applying as a pair or triad, each person must fill out the application.

* March 14-18, in Washington DC
* March 19-22, in New York City
* April 2-6, in Toronto
* Mid April, in Vancouver, BC
* May ??, in Victoria, BC (NOT CONFIRMED)
* June 13-15, in Philadelphia (NOT CONFIRMED)
* The rest of the time - Seattle, WA

Clich here for the appication



A Year Has Passed Since Mexican Trans Activist Agnes Torres Murder And Still No Justice

A un año del asesinato de Agnés Torres –activista en pro de los derechos humanos–, el asesino principal está libre, el asesino menor de edad fue sentenciado a sólo tres años de prisión. El proceso legal sigue abierto, los tres culpables restantes no han recibido sentencia. Por si fuera poco, uno de los homicidas pretende obtener su libertad. Por eso es de vital solicitar que el acto criminal no quede impune, que los asesinos se sancionen y que el prófugo sea atrapado.

Agnes Torres forever changing the world...

La discriminación empieza por la boca from Miguel De Lara on Vimeo.

Para que sigas cambiando al mundo, un honor haberte conocido Agnes Torres.

Fragmento del proyecto de tesis elaborada con Johanna Gersch. “La dinámica del Diseño de Información para contrarestrar el desinterés político en los jóvenes mexicanos”, Mayo 2009.


A year after the murder of Agnes Torres activist for human rights, the principal is free and an accomplice was sentenced but only received three years in prison. The legal process is still open, the three remaining culprits have not been sentenced. To make matters worse, one of the murderers sought freedom. So it is of vital request that the criminal act does not go unpunished, that murderers are punished and that the fugitive is caught.

Keep up to date with the facebook group Justice for Agnes Torres Hernandez

Please help bring these criminals to justice by signing the petition Que los asesinos de la activista Agnés Torres sean sentenciados y que el prófugo sea atrapado.

Istanbul Trans Woman Dies Of Injuries Sustained During Police Retaliatory Attack


 This is what gendercide looks like.



The transgender community in Turkey is under attack by it's own goverment. In a apparent retribution for our communities increased visibility a transgender woman beaten during March 7th raids by the police has died.

I can't believe if the 5000 friends I have on facebook only four have 'liked' LGBT Istanbul! This is our family being slaughtered! Please if you care like LGBT Istanbul. Then really care by sharing, bring this human tragedy, this blatant gendercide to the worlds spotlight.

This battle must be joined by the entire transgender community and allies if our dear family is to have any chance at survival.



3/9/13

Colorado School District 8 Notches It Up saying Mathis Family Rejected Invitation To Talk

The Fountain-Fort Carson School District twisted over the negative media attention its receiving about discriminating against Coy, a six year old transgender girl, went on the offensive taking it up a notch hoping to play the victim card.

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette "the District will respond to the Civil Rights Complaint filed by the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund which “will include its explanation as to why the district believed mediation would be unproductive in light of the parents’ refusal to meet, as well as their unwillingness to consider reasonable proposals offered by the district.”

"The family contends that they met in person in December with the principal of Eagleside Elementary School and also talked by phone with officials, said Michael Silverman, Defense Fund attorney."

"Silverman wrote a letter to the district on Dec. 26 asking that they reconsider the restroom issue, and their response was that there was nothing to talk about."


The school district has until March 17th to file the response.

Reality check.

They gave Coy three options for where to go to the bathroom; the boys' room, the staff bathroom with adults, or the nurse's bathroom which is used by sick children.

Coy is not sick, she is not an adult, and she is not a boy.

She's six years old you pompous self righteous transphobic asshats. She has to use the correct rest room just like all the other LGBT students in Colorado do or she will be ostracized by her classmates.

The School district broke the law by refusing Coy Mathis access to public facilities fitting her gender identity as mandated by state law.

Please support Coy and her family by signing there petition.




Iowa Judge Rules In Favor Of Transwoman and Against Bathroom Deputy

Jodie Jones complied with a Deputy's order to leave the ladies room in 2011. Ms. Jones tried to explain to the deputy that transgender people are covered in Iowa by state law in public accomidations but much to her astonishment and dismay was told by the dupety 'she didn't care about the law'.

Thirteen states (California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington) and the District of Columbia protect transgender people from discrimination in public accommodations. NCLR

Jones will sue if a public apology and settlement isn't obtained. It's a fairly safe bet law enforcement in Iowa is refreshing their knowledge of that law today.

Read more at Press Citizen

3/8/13

Polis saldırı ve transseksüel kadın tutuklanması Sledgehammer Istanbul LGBT gruplar protesto Istanbul LGBT Groups Protest The Arrest Of 20 Trans Woman


Gay Star News originally reported that police in Istanbul had broken down the doors of three homes with sledgehammers the day before International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8th.

It is reported that officers from the Beyoglu police station smashed the doors down without as much as a warning to the occupants, then arrested all of the transgender woman in the houses on suspicion of "providing space" for sex work. Most recognize that the timing of the attack was transphobic in nature and was meant to further intimidate and ostracize the trans woman.

Turkey has legalized prostitution but transgender woman are banned from the brothels forcing them into working outside the law to survive. It has been said that the woman in these houses had come together for safety but now that the houses have been demolished they will be forced onto the streets.

This is no less than a death sentence as Turkey has the second highest murder rate of transgender woman second only to Brazil.

According to Ilkekran.com Group spokesman Star Tar read by the statement:
"trans homes forcibly entered by breaking doors with a sledgehammer. Fanning the flames of the State transphobia, transgender yönenelik has been destroyed and assimilation policies. Transphobic police practices and an end to all the anti-sex workers and transgender sex workers safe Feast Street, We want to ensure the exploitation of the labor of the right to live by the work environment. Officials urge to abandon his policy of Bayram Sokak "the statement said." [google translate]



Scottish Trans Man Convicted of Having Stealth Sex


Chris Wilson a Scottish trans man was convicted March 6th of obtaining sexual intimacy by fraud because he didn't reveal his trans status to partners. I have been unable to obtain court records so it's unclear whether he is also being sentenced for having sex with minors. According to GSN every trans person in the UK might face similar charges if they do not reveal there trans status to potential sexual partners before sex.

British tabloids true to there reputation are framing his stealth as "trickery". Talk about a setup for permissible trans panic murders.

Scottish Trans spokesperson Nathan Gale told Gay Star News they are very concerned especially since a British teen was jailed last year for supposedly disguising herself as a male to date females.

Wilson is currently out on bail awaiting sentencing.

Video: Fallon Fox Demolishes Opponent in Cage Championship | Do we Cheer?


Just to keep this in focus, we are talking about  a bare taped knuckle (practically) no holds bared beat your opponent to a pulp sport Fallon Fox is good at. Maybe great at.

Do we as trans woman idolize her? Do we place violence on a pedestal and worship it as an end all solution? My first reaction after watching this video was to become a little ill. Violence has always done that to me but then a totally unexpected feeling began to filter in.



I felt empowered. I thought how many times have I felt helpless as I watched that video of Chrisy Polis getting beaten in that Maryland McDonald's and wished I could have been there to help her.

I can identify with Fallon Fox. I began a warehouse job I'm at now pretty out of shape and unfeminine in many ways. The past two years I have transformed my body with a steady regiment of HRT but more than that. I have been working out and running daily so now I have boobs, ass and muscles.

The job that was so challenging before? Now it's is now a piece of cake. The thing is that now instead of admiration I get jealously from woman coworkers.

They say I have a unfair advantage as a trans woman. GOOD GRIEF! So GO FALLON FOX! Get into that cage and demolish your opponents. I'll be ringside cheering you on.



3/7/13

Emerson College Transgender Student's SRS will Be Covered By Insurance After All

You remember Donnie Collins the Emerson College student who's fraternity raised $20,000 dollars after learning that his insurance rejected his application for top surgery?

Well it seems Aetna corrected a error in the policy after being contacted by the college and will cover Donnie's surgery after all. And what of the money raised by his Fraternity? The rest of the money will be donated to the Jim Collins Foundation a non profit which helps people obtain gender confirming surgeries.

3/6/13

Would You Sign Coy Mathis Parent's Petition?



"Our Transgender Daughter Is Just Another Girl: Tell Her School to Stop Discriminating".

[Petition Text]

We are Kathryn and Jeremy Mathis, the parents of five children in Fountain, Colorado. One of our daughters, Coy, is six years old and in first grade. Just before Christmas, Coy's school told us that after winter break, they would no longer allow her to use the girls' bathroom, because she is transgender.

They gave Coy three options for where to go to the bathroom; the boys' room, the staff bathroom with adults, or the nurse's bathroom which is used by sick children.

Coy is not sick, she is not an adult, and she is not a boy.

Coy is a girl. She wears girls' clothes, is addressed by everyone at the school using female pronouns, and has been accepted by her classmates and teachers as a girl. But if the school separates her from all her classmates to use the bathroom, they are singling her out for mistreatment, and teaching her classmates that it's okay to discriminate.

We want our daughter to have the same educational opportunities as every other Colorado student.

We have filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division asking the school to treat Coy like any other girl, because that's been the law in Colorado since 2007, when the state banned discrimination based on gender identity.

But we want our children's school to treat our daughter equally because it's the right thing to do, not because the law forces them to.

Please tell officials at Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 that teaching children to discriminate is wrong.

Click Here to Sign

MMA Fighter Fallon Fox Comes Out As Transgender Amid A ROAR Of Controversy

Cage fighter Fallon Fox lived stealth for five years demolishing opponents in the MMA ring but a phone call changed all that. Reluctantly Fallon Fox revealed to her fans, trainers and other fighters her post operative trans status.

Now that Falln Fox is "out" cries of impropriety are echoing expecially after her 39 second knock out of a Coral Cables Florida woman this week and four first round wins.

In an apparent mix up, a receipt from the California Athletic Commission which appears like a licence was mistaken by Fallon Fox as such and was most likely helpful in getting her Florida licence. The California Athletic Commission has now said that they are in the process of modifying those receipts to eliminate this confusion in the future.(after all this time?)



Most people commenting on Cage Junkie seem to think she lied and should be disqualified.

Outsports a recognized authority on transgender participation has a different take:

"She has solid ground to stand on. Given her physical transition, she would be eligible to compete in the Olympic Games as she meets the International Olympic Committees' standards for trans athletes. If she were so inclined, she would be eligible to compete on the LPGA Tour and the WTA."

The Florida Commission has Fox Fallon's licence under review but what about her next bouts?

USA Today reports that "In the meantime, Fox's next bout, which was scheduled for April 20 as part of a semifinal bout in an eight-women tournament at 145 pounds, is on hold as her promoter, Cage Fighting Alliance, has canceled the event in a show of support."

"We stand 120,000 percent behind Fallon," CFA CEO Jorge De La Nova said. "She's a female. She's a very sweet girl. There's a lot of money on the line for her, and she's performed very well. We're going to give her a couple of weeks to see how this thing turns out."



3/5/13

Your Trans Voice Got You Locked Down? Get Your Key and Break Free!

Long ago decided my voice was not going to inhibit my transition after coming to the conclusion it was not going to reflect my gender no matter what I did. It was a hard thing to come to terms with as my gender presentation at the time was, lets just say rough, undefined and unrefined. Sounding like a man just did not help.


Even with today's more inclusive social atmosphere vocal presentation remains an obstacle for many, particularly male to female trans people. For instance, I have a friend who has told me the major issue that is keeping her from fully transitioning is her voice. To me she sounds and looks enviable but it is our own self perception that holds us back after all.

There may be help for the vocally insecure as there are people who are studying this issue. Given time and effort who knows what might be possible? Yesterday I was contacted by Stefanie Hays, a graduate student at Louisiana State University who's conducting a study which could lead to drastic improvements in our lives.

She explained "I’m doing a research project about attitudes and perceptions about voice among people who identify as trans. The speech/voice field has done some previous research about trans voice, but hasn’t traditionally (received) a lot of input from the trans community itself. I’m hoping to start addressing that problem through a research project, using an online survey."

This survey was designed to collect information about personal satisfaction with voice, how voice impacts the participant’s life, what (if anything) the participant has done to change their presentation of gender vocally, and overall satisfaction with those procedures or behaviors. The results will be published in my master’s thesis.

I just finished the ten minute survey. She has included all of her contact information including the supervising professors phone number. Of course you are free to opt out at any point during the survey.

Film "Çocuğum" ile Türk tabu yıkıcı Shattering Turkish Taboos With the Movie "My Child"

The news from Turkey nearly always heartbreaking, is instead today, groundbreaking.

 Just released a movie made in Turkey about LGBT youth and the incredible hardships they face. But who would make such a thing in this land where we read about the horrific murders of trans people many regulated to sex work and honor killings , the tragic slaughter of sons and daughters by family compelled by a false sense of shame and guilt?

The answer is Turkey's bravest  LISTAG (Families of LGBTs in İstanbul)! These souls, who I am so honored to write about today, are the ones featured in this documentary titled My Child.




Meet Mother Pinar, a founding member of Listag and the mother to a transgender child who "was raised in a traditional family with “honorable woman”, “not to come home after it’s dark” kind of myths and of course with sins, taboos and disgraces like many of woman in her generation."

So how was it that Mother Pinar found herself with her daughter on our road less traveled? Read about this incredible woman in Gays of Turkey.

Visit the offical My Child website and learn how you can bring this documentry to your family.




NYPD Releases Pictures and Names of the Men Wanted For Rape Of Transgender Woman


Domique Fennel, Wayne Green, Kalif Halie, Jorge Castro are wanted in connection with the Rape and beating of a midtown transgender woman Febuary 28th 2013 according to NY1.

Thursday DNA.com reported that "at least three men sexually assaulted a screaming transgender woman at gunpoint after a fight erupted over money in their Midtown hotel room early Thursday morning, police said.".

"The attack occurred about 2:15 a.m. in a hotel on 57th Street, in the Midtown North Precinct, according to the NYPD."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS. Members of the public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at Crime Stoper.com, or by texting tips to CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577