THREE transgender friends chased and attacked in Footscray last week were the target of a hate crime, police believe.

Maribyrnong Inspector Adrian Healy said they were investigating the attack and believe the trio were targeted because of their gender identity.

“It appears that that would be the motivation for it,” Insp Healy said.

The group were paying the bill at an Ethiopian restaurant in Nicholson St, about 9pm on November 4 when they were harassed by three men, one of the victims said.

The men are alleged to have sworn at the three people and then chased them to a nearby supermarket on Albert St, about 9.25pm.

Transgender woman Starlady, her legal name, was one of the three attacked.

“We were terrified,” she said. “One of my friends was punched and another was put in a headlock.”

The incident has shaken the woman, leaving her afraid to return to work in the suburb.

“I don’t feel like it’s a safe place for me to be and I’m not sure I’ll be safe walking down the street” she said. Police have identified one of the men involved but are searching for the other two.

Victoria Police are interested in speaking to two men who appear in the Maribyrnong Eyewatch Facebook post. Both are described as medium height, medium build, with dark hair.

No charges have been laid.

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights commission’s Kristen Hilton said lesbian, gay bisexual, trans and intersex communities continued to face discrimination in many areas of life.

She said in the past three years the commission had received 157 complaints on the grounds of gender identity and sexual orientation.

“We know this is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the everyday experiences of people,” Ms Hilton said.