Hate crime investigators are searching for a man they say attacked a same-sex couple in Patchogue.

Police say some men approached two women at 3:30 a.m. on July 7 in an alleyway near the Patchogue-Medford Library on Main Street.

  They say that one of the men made lewd comments. Then, a man in a red shirt assaulted Kimberly Page.

The 30-year-old said she has been open about being gay since she was 13, but was assaulted because of her sexual orientation.

"It could happen anywhere, but unfortunately it happened in my own backyard," Page says.

She says the suspect pushed her girlfriend to the ground and then hit her once.

News 12 Long Island is told that she suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Police say they are investigating the case as a possible hate crime.

The president of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce told News 12 they are looking into adding additional cameras in the alleyway where it happened.

Anyone with information is asked to call Suffolk Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

All other concerns or questions regarding this incident or other suspected hate crimes can contact the LGBT Network.