Transgender Musician Bashed In Sydney Live Music Venue As Locals Protest

Transgender Sydney musician Stephanie McCarthy was allegedly bashed in Newtown's Town Hall Hotel on Friday night as she was waiting to go on stage to perform with her band, Love Maul. 

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Ms McCarthy was approached by five males who began to verbally and physically abuse her, by pulling her hair and calling her "faggot".

Ms McCarthy said that rather than intervene, the venue's security turned away from the incident: "One of the security guards was standing five metres away behind a glass door which he didn't even open. He ran downstairs, leaving me to get bashed." 

"I was told that, by the end of it, I had one guy holding my head right down low while the other was repeatedly punching me in the face," she recalled of the unprovoked attack, which left her face bloodied and bruised.

On Monday night, hundreds of people rallied in support of Ms McCarthy at a protest across the road from the Town Hall Hotel.

“They allowed a woman to be brutally beaten, and violence against women is not okay,” Ms McCarthy said over a megaphone.

“This is not a women’s issue, or a transgender issue, or a gay or lesbian issue — this is everyone’s issue.”

Ms McCarthy said that she had spoken to staff earlier in the night about her concerns that an incident would occur, but that her warnings were ignored. 

“I've been assaulted 11 times, and in this case I warned the staff half an hour before it happened that it would happen, it is absolutely dumbfounding that nothing was done."

The venue management addressed the incident in a Facebook post: "A recent unfortunate incident of unwarranted violence against another person has been both shocking and deeply regrettable, our thoughts are with the victim."

"All information and CCTV footage regarding the offenders and the incident has been forwarded to the authorities to help expedite a just outcome for Stephanie...we have taken statements from all bar and security staff and as yet have been unable to find anyone that was spoken to by Stephanie about the men involved prior to the assault occurring..."

Newtown Police are currently investigating the situation.