A Baltimore LGBT group, called Equality Maryland, confirmed that the victim of the Baltimore McDonalds’ beating is a transgender woman. Lisa Polyak, vice president of the board of directors for Equality Maryland commented on the video. “It does appear that the victim was a transgender woman, and she was brutalized while people stood by and watched,” “There’s no excuse for that violence under any circumstances, but we would encourage police to investigate as a hate crime.” Equality Maryland called on state Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler to investigate the case as a hate crime.

Police said a 14-year-old girl has been charged as a juvenile for the assault while charges were pending against an 18-year-old woman. It seems that the fight was over “using a bathroom”. Sadly this could get messy also for the victim, legally. The Baltimore Legislature recently shot down a “bathroom bill” which would have given transgender people the right to choose which bathroom they would like to use.

If this is a case of a 22 year old man entering a bathroom while a 14 year old girl was using it – get ready for a legal showdown. Any sleazeball criminal defense attorney will have enough facts to argue for a dismissal. I am sure the two girls have already been called by attorneys willing to take the case pro bono, trying to make a name. LGBT rights will spend more time on trial during this soon-to-be circus than the girls will. Still, all must agree that the assault, without a doubt, is heinous.

The Smoking Gun reports- The police report identifies the victim as 22-year-old Chrissy Lee Polis, who appears identical to Christopher Lee Polis, whose rap sheet includes convictions for disorderly conduct, property destruction, and prostitution, according to court records. Polis told police that she was walking to the restaurant’s bathroom when she “got into a verbal argument with two black females” who “began punching her in the face with their fists and pulling her hair.”

For those of you that have not seen the video here it is – I warn you it is very violent and very disturbing.