Homophobia Hits Mainstream Press
The story of the brutal bashing of Sydney couple Craig and Shane continues to gather momentum, making the mainstream press on the weekend. The Daily Telegraph report focused on the lack of response from Surry Hills police and warned that violence may spiral out of control as Mardi Gras’ 30th anniversary draws nearer.
ACON say that they’ve received 22 reports of homophobic violence in the last six weeks – almost as much as they’ve received in the last five months. Enough is enough.
“If you look at the rate, it’s basically doubled since about November,” said Anti Violence Project co-ordinator Carl Harris. ACON is lodging a formal complaint against the police for not protecting our community adequately.
While David Lee – Surry Hills Crime Manager, Detective Inspector, insisted that the bashing of the couple was treated like any other case, he did admit that the relationship between Surry Hills police and the gay community is not what it once was.
The police say that they are not entirely convinced of what ACON is saying, they think ACON is making the problem appear bigger than it really is. Meanwhile ACON say that the police record many of the homophobic assaults as alcohol-related incidents, so they’re not really getting a clear picture of the truth.
“We need police to ask – do you think this bashing was because of your sexuality?” says Stevie Clayton, CEO of ACON.
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kwickeemart
said ages ago