A woman alleges that Jay Walker, a prominent LGBTQ+ activist, struck her during a Nov. 5 protest outside Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. She says she was questioning his support for transgender medical care for minors. Video she recorded shows part of the confrontation.
Christiane Torello was counter-protesting at the rally. Walker, who leads Gays Against Guns and was a 2026 NYC Pride Grand Marshal, was among demonstrators opposing the hospital’s decision to stop providing gender-related treatments to minors. The hospital made the change in September as part of a resolution to a Department of Justice investigation into youth gender-transition procedures.
Torello said the hospital had stopped offering gender-affirming care to minors, including surgery, puberty blockers and hormones. She said she regularly attends protests to oppose such care and supports the hospital’s decision.
In the video, Torello can be heard questioning Walker as he walks away. She then alleges that he stopped, drew back his elbow and hit her in the chest. Walker is heard telling her several times to get away from him.
Torello said demonstrators at previous rallies had blocked her path or held signs close to her face, but she considered this encounter more violent. She said she followed Walker after he shouted slurs at her and continued asking him questions.
“As we were walking, he stopped in front of me, wound up his elbow and blasted me in the chest,” Torello said. She added that Walker is considerably taller than she is and that she believes he meant to hit her in the face.
The video later shows the two arguing and swearing as they walk. Walker calls Torello names including “psychotic” and “stalker,” while she calls him a “woman abuser.” At one point, he appears to lunge toward her. Torello tells him to do it again and says she will post the footage online.
Torello said she reported the incident to the New York City Police Department and wants to press charges, though she doubts an arrest will be made. She said she had a right to protest peacefully and that asking questions did not justify being hit.
She also described another incident at a protest about six weeks earlier, saying a man hit her while two NYPD detectives were nearby. Torello said she filed a report but does not believe any action was taken.
It was not clear whether police intend to make an arrest in connection with the latest allegation. The NYPD and Gays Against Guns NY did not respond to requests for comment.
Torello said she hopes the video draws attention to the incident and prompts police to act.
