Girl Beaten Over Sexual Orientation, Police Say

A 17-year-old student at James Monroe High School was beaten by three other girls at the school, allegedly because her attackers believed she was a lesbian, authorities said Friday.

The young woman was kicked and punched in a restroom at the high school. While beating her, the attackers made disparaging comments about her sexual orientation, said Sgt. Bruce Heschong of the Los Angeles Police Department. Heschong said police are investigating the May 6 attack as a hate crime.

The victim complained of aches and pain after the beating, and was taken to the doctor by her mother, Heschong said.

Joan Elam, the school principal, said she believes the girl’s attackers were students at the school. School officials and school police were continuing to investigate, and will turn over any information to Los Angeles police, Elam said.

According to school police, the victim was in a restroom stall when she heard three young women talking just outside. She told officers she believed they were talking about her.

When she left the stall, one of the others called her a “dyke” and hit her in the back, she said. A fistfight ensued, pitting three against one.

The victim, a junior, is a member of Project 10, a peer support group consisting mainly of gay and lesbian students, said teacher Debbie Fordham, the coordinator of the group.

“She’s very sociable . . . a well-liked kid,” Fordham said.

Fordham said the young woman may require knee surgery as a result of a kick to the leg during the attack.

“She’s handling it as well as can be expected,” she said. “She’s concerned not only for herself but for the other kids on campus.”

Elam said the young woman has returned to school and appeared to be in good spirits.

Both Elam and Fordham said the attack, if it was indeed motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation, was an isolated incident at the school.

To guard against further violence, school officials have invited a gay rights group to meet with students next month.

“We’re going to let them talk about what it is about gays and lesbians that bothers them so much,” said Judy Chiasson, of Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogues for Equality. “Then we’ll try to address that. It’s not a lecture. There are many people who feel they’ve never had a conversation with a gay or lesbian person.”