Gay Couple Attacked on New York Street, $5,000 Reward for Information: 'Every Time She Leaves the House, I Am Afraid.'

Police in New York have launched a hate crime investigation after a woman was allegedly assaulted in the street while she was with her girlfriend.

Suffolk County Police are offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who can provide information that leads to an arrest following the attack which occurred in Patchogue in the early hours of July 7.

Police said the two women, who are in a same-sex relationship, were in an alleyway, near to the Patchogue-Medford Library on Main Street at around 3:30 a.m. when they were approached by a group of men.

Speaking to News 12 Long Island, one of the victims, 30-year-old Kimberly Page, said one man then began hurling homophobic slurs at them and became confrontational.

"My girlfriend [was] in high heels, a little bit more feminine than I am, and [suspect said] 'I'm not going to fight you because you're a woman, I'm going to fight her,' meaning me, 'because she's a man.'"

Page said the man then hit her girlfriend, sending her the ground, before going on to punch Page and causing her to lose conscious.

"I know now that he was bashing my head on the concrete ground multiple times," Page said at a press conference, reports Newsday. "While that is going on, another one of the men was holding and pushing my girlfriend to the ground, in order for her not to help me."

Page was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue with non-life-threatening injuries following the attack. Her girlfriend was also taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

Speaking at the press conference held along with David Kilmnick, president and CEO of the New York LGBT Network, Page's parents described their disgust at their daughter being the target of an anti-gay attack.

"We love Kimberly, we love everything about Kimberly. We would not change anything about her," her mother Marie Page said. "But every time she leaves the house, I am afraid."

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Hate Crimes Unit detectives have released images of the man they want to speak to in connection to the attack. He is described as black, wearing a red bandana, red shirt, and red pants.

Police do not believe the other men in the group were involved in the assault.

Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, texting "SCPD" and your message to "CRIMES" (274637) or by email at www.tipsubmit.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.