Gay-bashing 'epidemic' in Qld

Tuesday, October 3, 1995 - 10:00

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE — An "epidemic of gay-bashing" has hit Queensland, but many homosexuals are afraid to report assaults, a crime conference was told on September 28. Nick Ward, spokesperson for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Anti-Violence Council, said there were up to 40 attacks a month, with youth gangs the most prominent gay-bashers.

Ward said many assaults were never reported and, in some cases, hospital treatment had been refused when a victim's sexuality became evident.

He said the state-wide study showed a higher rate of homophobic violence than others carried out in Australia and around the world. "It showed that what we thought was a small percentage is in fact much larger."

A survey of 157 gays and lesbians found one in three had been the victim of a violent attack but only 14% had reported it.

From GLW issue 205