Long Beach Reacts to String of Alleged Anti-Gay Attacks

Just a few months after thousands took to the streets of downtown Long Beach for Pride weekend, the city's Second District has been rocked by a string of apparently unrelated attacks on gay men.

Long Beach police have charged one suspect in the first of three attacks that took place at the end of July in the Broadway corridor, an area known for its gay-friendly businesses. Police are calling on more witnesses to come forward as they continue to investigate.

"Our patrol officers are going to maintain high visible presence in the Broadway corridor and pay particular attention to the area around the bars in late evenings," said LBPD spokesman Sgt. Rico Fernandez. "We will be deploying a walking unit in the area of the Broadway corridor and the surrounding neighborhood at random times."

Fernandez said officers are working with bar and restaurant owners to give patrons personal safety advice, like to walk in groups and in well-lit areas.

Martin Daniel Sanchez was leaving a bar with friends near Falcon Avenue on July 24 when they were approached by Jorge Ibarrias, who allegedly asked them if they were gay. When Sanchez replied that he is gay, Ibarrias allegedly punched him in the face, knocking out several teeth.

Police apprehended Ibarrias, a 22-year-old Torrance resident, and charged him with battery with a hate crime enhancement.

Three days later, another gay man was verbally and physically attacked near Broadway and Orange Avenue. Just blocks away on July 31, three men sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries when a group attacked them. This group reportedly used anti-gay slurs against the men during the assault.

All of the incidents were reported without knowledge of one another. Prior to July 24, the last reported anti-gay hate crime in the city happened last December when vandals damaged both the Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Center and popular gay bar Ripples.

Long Beach is regarded as one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States with a large, tight-knit LGBT community.

In response to the attacks, 200 people gathered at Bixby Park on Aug. 4 for a rally that the Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Center, the Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club and local elected representatives organized.

Fundraisers have been organized to help cover Sanchez's medical costs and a dental surgeon is donating his services to him. Sanchez's friend Eric Avila, who was walking with him during the attack and with whom Sanchez was visiting from Ontario, has been outspoken supporting him and condemning the attacks.

"The community and elected officials decided to come together to let the community know that these types of incidents or crimes are not tolerated in the city, to show support for the recent victims and to let everyone know that Long Beach is about diversity and equality," said Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Center Event Committee Co-chair Ra�l A�orve. "Anyone caught committing these types of crimes will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of law."

He responded to criticism that the rally lacked a specific plan of action.

"We at the Center are aware that our work doesn't end with a rally or a gathering or a vigil, it continues and in fact, it's the harder work that comes after the big event. That's where the Center has picked up."

He and others are organizing a hate crime awareness campaign to kick off with a community forum in coming weeks. Residents will learn about the city's resources, how to report hate and bias incidents and general personal safety tips.

A�orve stressed the importance of speaking up about hate incidents-from verbal harassment to physical attacks. For every reported hate crime, the Department of Justice estimates that 24 to 28 go unreported.

"Personally I don't want the community to feel like they need to be afraid, it's generally a very safe city," said A�orve. "We really want to empower the victims who have come forward and let them know that they are being heard and they did the right thing because we feel that will empower someone else."