Australia’s “Homophobic Free” Zones May Backfire

Sydney, also known as Australia’s gay capital, felt the wrath of a rebel city councilor due to plans to create ‘homophobia-free zones’ in the heart of its bar and nightclub district.

Earlier this month, the city’s council voted 5 to 4 to designate parts of the city “homobia-free”. The parts they included are frequented by Syndney’s GLBT community. The measure was set as an attempt to deter violence, abuse and harassment towards homosexuals.

The plan, designed in cooperation with members of the GLBT community, encourages local businesses to use stickers and other signs to declare their support for the gay community. It also extends the council the right to revoke late-night business privileges for venues whose patrons commit homophobic attacks.

However, some rebel councilors believe the plan could backfire and lead to more attacks on homosexuals. “The young men who come in from outer suburbs to drink alcohol and assault gay people are not going to be deterred by a sticker in a window,” said counci lor Shayne Mallard.

“Because they already have homophobic and violent tendencies, it’s more likely to be a provocation,” he told The Australian newspaper.

“Lots of people in the gay and lesbian community fear it will provoke more violence… we’ve had enough of these PR stunts.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who backed the proposal, said while all areas of Sydney were technically homophobia-free zones, the new strategy recognised the importance and strength of the city’s gay, lesbian and bisexual community.

“If people get away with homophobic abuse, there is a strong risk that they move on to physical abuse and violence,” she said in a statement. “We must stop it before it gets to that stage.”

Sydney Declares Oxford St as Homophobia-Free Zone

The City of Sydney has taken the unusual step of declaring Oxford Street a homophobia-free zone in a bid to tackle anti-gay violence.

The homophobia-free zone motion was put forward by Cr Phillip Black at a recent forum for the gay community, receiving support from other community groups along with the council’s endorsement.

The Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said the declaration of the zone, coupled with the Oxford Street Safety Strategy which came into effect last year, would help Sydney take a more proactive approach towards protecting the minority group.

“Homophobic abuse is often a precursor to violence…While all areas of NSW are technically ‘homophobia-free zones’, this strategy recognises the importance and strength of the GLBT community in our City,” Cr Moore said.

Read the rest at governmentnews.com.au.

Aussie Teen Denies Murder At Gay Beat

A Sydney Australia teenager has denied murdering an autistic man at a public restroom commonly known as a gay beat. The teen, who was 16-years-old at the time of the murder cannot be named, but has pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of Gerard Fleming, 35, in June of 2007 Narrabeen on Sydney’s northern beaches.

The NSW Supreme Court prosecutor, Margaret Cunneen, said the teenager told police the man had emerged from a cubicle wearing underpants, but with his trousers around his knees.

Ms. Cunneen told the jury Mr. Fleming had suffered from a mild form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. She said the teenager also told police he had given Mr. Fleming a beer, which they had drunk inside the public toilet because it was raining. The teenager then said Mr. Fleming emerged from a toilet cubicle, approached him and joked, “I’m giving you a wedgie.” The teen claims the man then grabbed him “in a kind of bear hug” at which point the teen then stabbed him twice with a folding knife he was carrying in his pocket.

The trial is continuing before Justice David Kirby.

Sydney To Host Second GLBT Forum

The City of Sydney’s second GLBT Community Forum will be held this Monday (July 21). It will begin with short presentations on working with the City by GLBT Project Co-Ordinator Pip Ditzell, Events Manager Michael Abbott, Manager of Social Policy and Community Support Suzie Mathews, and Manager of Culture and Libraries Kiersten Fishburn. Read more