Street Safety

The information on these pages is from the Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Projects ‘On Any Street’ Safety Booklet. To get hard copies of the booklet or other resources give the AVP a call.

What is Homophobic Violence

What are Hate Crimes and Homophobia?

Homophobia is the irrational fear, intolerance and sometimes hatred of gay men and lesbians. It can take the form of social, institutional, legal or individual discrimination. When homophobia is the motive for violence against gay men or lesbians it is called a hate crime. The most common homophobic hate crime is street-based violence.

How bad is the violence?

Violence against gay men and lesbians is very high. The NSW Police Service Out of the Blue (1995) study found that lesbians were six times more likely to be assaulted than other Sydney women and gay men were four times more likely to be assaulted that other Sydney men.

Additionally, it found that 90% of gay men and lesbians, compared with 56% of the general NSW population were “concerned” that they or their friends would be assaulted.

About 60% of reported anti-lesbian and anti-gay violence occurs in the inner-Sydney suburbs of Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Newtown, and Kings Cross. However, the police and AVP have reports of violence from all major regional centres and rural areas across New South Wales.

What kinds of homophobic violence and abuse are there?

Anti-gay and anti-lesbian violence can include:

Verbal assaults – Probably the most common form of street-based homophobia. Most gay men and lesbians would be familiar with the experience of a carload of people driving past calling out insults like ’filthy dyke’ or ‘dirty faggot’.

Ongoing harassment or intimidation - This may include a work mate or neighbour targeting their victim with name calling, inappropriate comments, threats of violence or actual violence, vandalism, graffiti etc.

Physical violence – This can range in intensity from a ‘shoulder charge’ to a classic ‘poofter/dyke bashing’ involving one or more attackers through to hate motivated murder. Threats of violence as well as actual physical violence are illegal.

Sexual harassment or assault – Sexual violence is almost always about the perpetrator trying to show their power or dominance. Both gay men and lesbians can experience this type of violence. The idea that all a lesbian needs is a “Good root to fix her!” is often associated with sexual harassment and violence. Perpetrators may use sexual violence as a way of ‘punishing’ gay men and lesbians.

Avoiding Violence

While no one can guarantee street safety there are a number of strategies you can use to significantly reduce risk.

Avoiding violence on the street

If you are walking in the street (especially at night) you can:

• Stay alert. Awareness is your best defence.
• Walk with others. Stick close to a friend or a group of ‘safe’ looking people like other gays or lesbians or groups of women.
• Keep enough money for a taxi or bus.
• Walk in well lit areas.
• If you are on a quiet street walk down the middle of the road (mind the cars though!).
• Walk in the opposite direction to the traffic flow to avoid a car pulling up behind you.
• Where possible, avoid doorways, bushes etc where an attacker might hide.
• Remember that alcohol can make people aggressive and unpredictable.

Groups of young men

We know that the vast majority of street-based homophobic violence is perpetrated by groups of young men travelling together. If you see such a group you can:

• Cross the road. Try not to draw attention to yourself.
• Avoid making eye contact.
• Avoid walking through the middle of the group. Go around them.
• Avoid walking between the group and walls etc. Try to ensure you have a clear escape route if you need it.

General safety tips

There are a few other strategies you can use to help keep safe. You can:

• Carry a whistle or personal alarm.
• Stay alert for homophobic signals like comments and stares.
• Project confidence.
• Do a self-defence course.
• Have your house or car keys ready before you get to your door so that you aren’t fumbling around.
• Know the trouble spots, eg. outside certain pubs, and either avoid them or be extra careful when near them.
• We all have a right to show affection in public, but keep in mind that showing affection in public can make it easier to identify you as lesbian or gay.
• Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right get away. You may not be right about the situation but it is better to be safe …

Getting to and from a party

It is an unfortunate fact that some bashers will target specific lesbian and gay community events. If the event involves a level of “party wear” their targets are made easier to identify. People in drag, fetish gear, lycra, leathers or feathers can make pretty obvious targets. So if you are heading for such an event you can:

• Wear an overcoat or jacket.
• Change at the party or go to a friend’s place and change there.
• Arrange to meet with a group and walk to the venue together.
• Get a taxi to the event, even if it is only a short distance.
• Remember you look fabulous – so act confident.

Looking after your friends

If you are out partying with friends keep an eye out for them. Being drunk or out of it can make someone an easy target. If a friend is leaving a pub/club/party you can:

• Encourage them to stay until they have sobered up/come down a bit.
• Put them in a taxi.
• Walk or drive them home.
• Call someone to pick them up.

Protecting Your Community

How can I make my community safer?

There are a range of activities you can do to help make our communities safer. You can:

• Report all homophobic incidents you see.
• Support your friends if they have been victims of violence.
• Inform venue/event managers if you see any homophobic violence in or around their venues.
• Comment to local Councils or Members of Parliament if you believe a proposed development will increase the risk of violence in an area.
• Meet with your local Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer and keep them informed of issues.
• Keep an eye out for each other.

Dealing with violence or abuse

Regardless of how careful you are you can still be confronted by verbal abuse or physical violence. There are a range of strategies you can use to reduce the impact of this violence.

Verbal abuse

Verbal abuse is the most common form of street-based homophobia.

We know it is often a prelude to physical assault. It can be upsetting and embarrassing to be called names like ‘dyke’ or ‘faggot’. It can also be a reflexive response to return the insult.

If they are at a safe distance and there is no threat of the situation escalating you can show them how witty you can be. However, if they are near-by or in a big group it is much safer to just ignore it! Better a bruised ego than any thing else. If you do answer back be prepared to run.

Physical Threats

If a person or group confronts you you can:

• Remain calm.
• Project confidence but don’t act cocky.
• Try not to escalate the situation. Don’t insult them (even if it seems so tempting!).
• Try to escape. Run away. Head for somewhere with people.
• Look for a Safe Place sticker.
• Alert bar/security/railway staff etc that you are being harassed.

If it becomes physical

If you are attacked you can:

• Run for it. Get away as soon as you can.
• Scream, yell ‘fire’,make as much noise as you can to attract attention.
• Use your elbows and knees. Unless you are trained, they make better weapons than fists.
• Aim for ‘soft targets’ like eyes, throat and groin.
• Remember if you are knocked to the ground cover your head and try to keep moving. It is more difficult to kick a moving target.
• Never let an attacker force you into a car, back street or building. Being taken from the scene significantly increases the chances of you being seriously assaulted.

If the attacker has a weapon

The most common weapons used in bashings are broken bottles, knives or baseball bat-like sports equipment. As a rule the best defence against a weapon is distance.

You Can:

• Keep your eye on the weapon and move away from it.
• Use an item like a bag or chair as a barrier against the weapon.
• Get away as soon as you can.

Get the Details

Try to get and remember as many details about the attacker as possible. Hair and eye colour, height, weight, other physical characteristics, tattoos, piercings and clothing can all be used to identify and attacker.

Use your judgement. Every situation is unique and each person’s skills are different. Let your judgement be your guide.

112 Emergency Mobile Number

If you have a mobile phone with you in an emergency you can either dial 000 or the special 112 emergency number. Its advantages are:

• Dialling 112 will over-ride your keypad lock, 000 wont.
• If you are in an area where your network signal isn’t strong 112 will connect you to another network. This is especially useful in rural areas where mobile coverage may be less comprehensive.
• The mobile network can be used to locate your phone.
• The number works in most countries around the world.

What if I witness an incident?

Intervening in a violent situation can be difficult, embarrassing and frightening. But we all have a role to play in stopping homophobic violence.

Think how you would feel if you, your partner or a friend were being attacked and no one offered any assistance. Don’t just assume someone else will help! If we are going to reduce the violence against our communities we need to act, both as individuals and as a group.

What can I do during an incident?

The aim of intervening is to scare off the attackers and stop the attack. Unless you are a very skilled fighter don’t get physically involved. You can:

• Scream, blow a whistle or yell ‘fire’. Try to attract as much attention as possible.
• Run and alert others to the situation.
• Call the police and let the attacker/s know you are doing it.
• Take note of the attacker’s details. Look at what they are wearing, car model and license plate number, eye/hair colour, other physical characteristics etc.
• Write the details down as soon as you can.
• Give your contact details to the victim as you may be called on as a witness.

How can I support the victim?

If you successfully scare away an attacker or you come across a victim you can:

• Call the police and/or ambulance immediately. Don’t assume someone else has!
• Try to calm them down. Let them know you are there and are trying to help.
• Make them comfortable and if they are injured don’t move them too much.

You can anonymously report the incident to the AVP even if the victim doesn’t want to take it further. Sometimes victims of violence don’t want to make official reports but it is still important for the AVP to know what is happening on the streets. We use anonymous reports to build a clearer picture of homophobic violence and to lobby government.

What if I’m attacked?

Being verbally abused or physically attacked can be a very traumatic experience. There are a number of actions you can take after an incident to help you recover.

Getting medical help

The most important thing to do after a violent incident is to seek medical attention. You can go to the Accident and Emergency Department of the nearest hospital, to a medical centre or to your own GP. Even if you don’t think you need treatment, a check up by your GP is a good idea. It can also be helpful should you need a medical report at a later stage.

Reporting to the police

It is also important to think about reporting the incident to the police. If such incidents aren’t reported to the police they will have no way of tracking homophobic abuse and violence. To find out more about reporting to the police Click Here.

To Report to the police. In an emergency call 000. Otherwise call the Police Switchboard (9281 0000) and ask to be put through to your local station. You can also ask the Switchboard to put you through to a Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer (GLLO) in your area.

Reporting to the AVP

Whether or not you make a statement to the police you can report the incident to the AVP. It is vital that the AVP receives reports of all types of incidents including verbal abuse, physical or sexual assaults, homophobic graffiti and on-going harassment. For more information about reporting to the AVP Click Here.

Report it to the AVP. Call the Report-Line on 9206 2116 or 1800 063 060 (M-F, 10-6). Your name and personal details can be kept confidential. It usually takes 10-15 minutes to fill in a report.

How will I feel after an assault?

Every person’s reaction to a homophobic attack is unique. The way in which you respond may depend on many factors including:

• The nature of the incident;
• Past experience of abuse, violence and homophobia;
• Other stress in your life;
• The amount of emotional and practical support you have.

Some common experiences include:

Disturbed sleep. It is very common to have trouble sleeping after an assault.

Fear. After an assault you may feel vulnerable and afraid. Being alone, going out at night, being in a crowd or with other may trigger feeling of fear.

Anger. Feelings of anger can range from irritability to rage. Even if you are normally calm you may find yourself lashing out, even towards partners and friends.

Repeated thoughts of the incident. You may find it hard to stop thinking about what happened. These thoughts can bring up feelings of distress, fear or anger.

Feelings of depression. It is common to feel low or blue for a while after an assault. You might blame yourself or wish you had acted differently. If feelings of depression become unmanageable or if you have any thoughts of suicide it is vital you seek professional help. A qualified and experienced counsellor can help you manage and overcome these feelings. Remember you survived the assault – you can survive this crisis too.

Helping yourself after an assault

There are a number of things you can do to help recover from an assault.

You can:

• Talk about your feeling to people you trust.
• Treat yourself gently. Allow yourself time to recover – your have been through a stressful experience.
• all the Victim Support Line or the AVP for information, referral options or just to talk about your feelings.

Finding professional support.

Monitor your reactions to the assault and if they are intense and do not fade over time consider seeking professional help. You Can:

• Call one of the support services listed on our Getting Help Pages for support, information and/or referral to other services.
• See your GP to discuss your reactions. They can refer you to a suitable counsellor.

The Final Word

Anti-gay and lesbian violence is an unfortunate reality and can be a painful experience. However it is important to keep it in perspective. There are a range of strategies we can use to reduce the risk of violence against our communities and ourselves. They may not eliminate violence but we can’t let fear stop us enjoying our lives. We need to be cautious but not paranoid.