An actor has spoken out after being subjected to a vicious transphobic attack by two strangers who dragged her to the ground and kicked her.
Jaylin Ye, who made history as the first Chinese transgender female character to appear on British TV, was targeted outside Balham station in south west London as she returned from a screening in Soho.
She described losing a ‘chunk of hair’ as the man and woman pulled her to the ground and kicked her repeatedly while screaming abuse.
One shouted ‘you f******* tranny’ during the attack just after midnight on Thursday, June 26, Jaylin told her followers on Instagram.
She said: ‘I screamed help but unfortunately no one was there to help me.
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‘I lost my belongings, a chunk of my hair, and was left covered in blood and bruises. It was one of the most brutal and traumatic things I’ve ever experienced in my life but I am a survivor.’
Jaylin, who had been returning from the screening of a friend’s documentary, had her hair pulled and was pushed to the ground and dragged to the side of the road.
The culprits robbed her before running away.
The actor told Metro that she is recovering well and wants to raise awareness about the alarming rise of transphobic hate crime, which has more than doubled in London over the past five years, according to Metropolitan Police figures.
She is especially concerned about the abuse of trans people after May’s Supreme Court ruling on the definition of the word ‘woman’.
‘I want to use this opportunity to raise awareness because of the dramatic increase in transphobic hate crime across the UK, especially after the Supreme Court ruling,’ Jaylin said.
‘It’s emboldened more hate against the trans community, which is completely wrong. No one should ever be attacked because of their identity, for simply being who they are.
‘I couldn’t imagine anyone would want to live in a society like that.’
Jaylin is well known among London’s queer community as a profound figure and actor, with her credits including Amazon Prime’s Dead Hot, a six-part comedy thriller in which she took the part of Karis.
She is thankful for the support she has received in the wake of the attack, including through a GoFundMe page which has raised almost £19,000 to help her heal from the ‘brutal transphobic hate crime’.
The fundraiser’s organiser Matthew Morgan said his friend had been targeted ‘just for existing as her beautiful self’ and ‘the perpetrators will not get away with it’ after the incident was reported to police.
Jaylin has been left fearful for her safety while going to and from the station but has drawn comfort from the massive outpouring of support.
‘As much as this is a painful situation the whole community has been reaching out and really has my back,’ she said.
’Everyone has been super-supportive and doing as much as they can for me, which has helped with my recovery.
‘There’s been an outpouring of love which has been overwhelming and I am grateful for every message, gesture and moment of support.’
Police were called at 12.15am on the morning to reports of a robbery, with the victim being treated at the scene by medics.
Due to comments made during the incident the matter is being investigated as a transphobic hate crime.
Detective Superintendent Amanda Mawhinney, from the Met’s South West Command, said: ‘This was an appalling and vicious attack which we are treating as a transphobic hate crime.
‘The victim went through a terrifying ordeal. She was badly assaulted, subjected to vile transphobic comments and had her bag stolen.
‘We are providing her with every support and will do everything we can to find the two suspects responsible.
‘Our current enquiries are focused on CCTV work in and around the area at the time of the incident and I would encourage anyone with information that could assist to please contact police.’
The Met maintains that the ‘vast majority’ of Londoners treat each other with respect but certain sections of communities ‘are subjected to deplorable abuse and harassment.’
The force says that it ‘does not tolerate any form of hate crime and is absolutely committed to prosecuting offenders.’
*Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 76/26June. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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