Trans teen brutally beaten by classmates who were later “proud” of their violence on social media
A late-night party in a wooded area frequented by teens in Gloucester, Massachusetts, was the scene of a brutal beating over the Labor Day weekend that left a trans high school junior with bone fractures and nerve damage.
Sixteen-year-old Jayden Tkaczyk was transported to a local hospital emergency room after police responded to the area known as Dogtown.
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Italian runner Valentina Petrillo responded with words of hope, calling on the world to treat trans people better.
“One second, I was having fun. The next minute, I was on the ground getting my face stomped and beat,” said Tkaczyk after his release from the hospital.
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Tkaczyk told reporters he’s dealt with being bullied for years over his trans identity and is sure it played a part in why he was targeted on Friday night.
“They were saying the F-slur over and over and over as they were punching me and stomping me,” he recalled.
As of Wednesday, Gloucester Police Chief Edward Conley had yet to declare the assault a hate crime.
“We are treating these allegations with the utmost seriousness,” Conley said in a statement. “We ask the public to allow the investigation to proceed without rushing to judgment.”
Tkaczyk was reported missing before police responded to the area around 10:45 p.m. Cops say they learned that there had been a “dispute” among teens at the gathering and that one had been assaulted. Authorities said the people involved “are known to one another.”
Adding to the family’s distress: social media posts justifying the attack.
“This has always been my worst fear as a mom of a trans teen,” said Jasmine Tkaczyk, Jayden’s mother. “A lot of them are proud of what they did, and it’s wrong.”
“He’s been bullied by these children for years,” she added.
Chief Conley said he’s assigned a detective trained in civil rights investigations to lead the case and is in contact with the Essex County District Attorney’s office for additional support and resources.
In the aftermath of the brutal beating, the 16-year-old displayed a level of grace beyond his years.
“They had clearly mentioned in the past that they don’t like me because I’m trans,” Tkaczyk said, but he added, “I hope that the people that have hate in their heart find and seek inner happiness within themselves and inner peace.”
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