08/08/2007
Series of Homophobic Attacks Hits Sydney's Oxford Street
Oxford Street, a hub of gay nightlife in Sydney with numerous hotels and 11 nightclubs, was the site of several anti-gay assaults recently, the Sydney Star Observer reports:
"At least three people were attacked near Oxford St last weekend, in a spate of homophobic violence that has rocked the community. One known incident occurred at Taylor Square on Sunday afternoon, in which one man was punched in the face and another was hit over the head with a bottle. The injured men were rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital and have since been released. One of the alleged offenders was arrested by police and charged with assault. ACON Anti-Violence Project (AVP) coordinator Carl Harris said the attack was one of a number of bashings in the Oxford St precinct at the weekend, but the victims were yet to come forward."
Although the police run numerous patrols in the area including Middle Eastern and Organised Crime Squad, Public Order and Riot Squad and regional operations, more police visibility is necessary say local leaders, and also more community vigilance, according to ACON Anti-Violence Project (AVP) coordinator Carl Harris:
"One of the biggest problems we face in terms of improving security around Oxford St is the fact that most victims of, witnesses to, homophobic violence don’t report it. As a result, the stats are a lot lower than they should be, which in turn diminishes the need for action to be taken by the relevant authorities. So we’re encouraging anyone who was a victim of or who witnessed any homophobic violence in the Oxford St area over the weekend to please report it to the police and the AVP."
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Posted 3:55 PM EST by Andy in Australia, Crime, News, Nightlife, Sydney | Permalink
Comments
Oxford Street is pretty straight these days. Sure there are some well known gay bars, but also many bars and clubs that attract a straight crowd.
If you walked up and down Oxford Street on a Friday/Saturday night you'd be forgiven for thinking it's just another strip of bars and clubs.
Posted by: Leo | Aug 8, 2007 4:56:13 PM
Would these attacks have anything to do with John Howards gay bashing political attaks? Were the murders and beatings in the US during the last few years becasue of the incitement to violence by the gay bashing Bushes and christians? Did Bill and Hillary Clintons pushing the DOMA and DADT into law have anything to do with the following:
Name Matthew Shepard
Born December 1, 1976
Casper, Wyoming
Died October 12, 1998 (aged 21)
Fort Collins, Colorado
Occupation Student
Parents Dennis and Judy (Peck) Shepard?
These questions answer themselves.
Posted by: Bill Perdue | Aug 8, 2007 7:16:47 PM
Oxford Street is a major avenue in Sydney. Of couse there are straight bars on it, but there are many, many gay bars all along it also for blocks & blocks. You would have to be an idiot to walk down that street and not know you were in the gay section of town.
Posted by: whatever | Aug 8, 2007 7:42:11 PM
11 nightclubs? Who knew we had that many gay nightclubs in the state, let alone in Oxford Street.
Actually the original article says "police had more than 60 hotels in the area to look after, including 11 nightclubs." - nothing about them all being in Oxford Street, let alone gay.
Posted by: Mike | Aug 9, 2007 5:49:06 AM
How safe is Kings Cross nowadays?
Posted by: stephen | Aug 9, 2007 7:39:59 AM
Em, Tony. 'Oxford Street' is not a streetname exclusive to London. You need to check your facts more carefully. When walking down Oxford Street, Sydney, its abundantly clear that is is a heavily homo-ized strip, but at the same time at the weekends it is choc-a-bloc with people from all walks of life heading to the various straight and gay clubs & bars that line the street, so no doubt its much like any other strip where the mixture of people and lots of alcohol can lead to fights breaking out.
Posted by: Grover | Aug 9, 2007 7:41:12 AM
Compared to Chicago's Halstead St, SF. Castro, Toronto Church St etc... Oxford St. is not as "gay" as some would think. The street is very mixed, it is a main throughfare through the city.
But that does not mean that anti-gay violence does not happen in the 'hood.
Posted by: Mike | Aug 9, 2007 6:14:01 PM
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