Homeless NYC Teen Says He Was Raped in Union Square Bathroom

A 19-year-old homeless teen says he was raped in a restroom in NYC's Union Square early Thursday morning, A Walk in the Park reports:

The victim claims the assailant followed him into the male bathroom and attacked him inside a stall according to the police.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening at approximately 6:30 pm between E. 16/17th Street on the east side of the park near Union Square East. 

According to police the victim said he was "In fear for his safety."

The victim is being treated at Bellevue Hospital according to law enforcement sources.  Police describe the suspect as a white male approximately 25-years-old who was known to the victim from Union Square Park.

The NYPD told Gothamist there is an open investigation but wouldn't comment.

One WTC Peeks Through the Clouds: PHOTO

One WTC, snapped by Delta Airlines Captain Jerry Walsh. (via WTC Progress)

'New York Times' Urges Passage of Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA): VIDEO

The New York Times has posted an editorial urging passage of New York's GENDA bill:

A measure to outlaw discrimination based on gender identity or expression — the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, or Genda, sponsored by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried and Senator Daniel Squadron — passed the Democratic-led Assembly in April for the sixth time. There is a good chance it would also pass the Senate, with nearly all Democrats and some Republicans voting in favor. The challenge is getting the bill to the floor for an up-or-down vote before the end of the legislative session, scheduled on June 20.

Senator Jeffrey Klein, the Democratic leader in the Senate’s coalition leadership, must insist on a vote. He should tell Senator Dean Skelos, the coalition’s Republican leader, that bottling up bills like this one is not part of their power-sharing deal. It would help if Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a supporter of the bill, would commit political capital to enacting the legislation before the session ends. Sixteen states — including New Jersey and Connecticut — and the District of Columbia have enacted anti-discrimination protections covering transgender people. New York should not lag on this important civil rights issue.

Watch a brief spot from the Empire State Pride Agenda explaining the legislation,
AFTER THE JUMP...

1925 Hand-Drawn Map of Greenwich Village

Here's a very cool hand-drawn map of Greenwich Village from 1925. Many of the area's most famous landmarks have yet to appear. It would be 42 years before The Stonewall Inn arrived.

(via slate)

Gay Men Seen in Violent Arrest by NYPD Hold Press Conference: VIDEO

Yesterday we posted video of what the New York Anti-Violence (AVP) is calling a bias-motivated assault and arrest of three gay men by NYPD officers in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn on June 3.

This afternoon, the AVP held a press conference with the men and LGBT community advocates about the incident, calling for an investigation.

According to WPIX, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says the NYPD is looking into the allegations.

“I’ve seen the video, and I think it’s appropriate to have it investigated by the Internal Affairs Bureau,” Kelly said.

Watch WPIX's report on the incident and the press conference, AFTER THE JUMP...

The New York City of 30 Years Ago: VIDEO

1983. Wasn't so long ago, but looking at this footage it feels like an eternity.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via buzzfeed)