Twenty-year-old Lismore resident Ben Cooper was awarded a "Kids in Community" award in June, for his work as a queer activist in the community. Cooper organised two equality rallies in Lismore for the same-sex marriage National Days of Action and is the founder of Lismore Activists for Same Sex Equality (LASSE). LASSE has recently been involved in a campaign against Regeneration, a Lismore Baptist church group that aims to "convert" young gays to heterosexuality.
Cooper's voracity has earned him much respect within the local activist community and he is often quoted within the local press. Disturbingly, Cooper has received four death threats over the last fortnight. "I have been campaigning against a local Baptist church that was recently exposed in the local media for operating a group with the aim of converting young gays to heterosexuality", Cooper told Green Left Weekly. "The publicity from this campaign has made me a target. One of the letters I received said 'I know where you live, I know what you do [and] if you don't stop with your AIDS carrying activism it will be stopped for you.' The letter was signed 'proud National Party voter and Christian'."
Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) activist Stuart Bansgrove also received homophobic hate mail in the lead up to the August 12 national day of action for same-sex marriage. "These death threats are a product of the homophobic environment created by discriminatory polices brought in by the Coalition and supported by the ALP", said Allan Brennan, CAAH spokesperson.
Cooper said: "I will not be intimidated by this anti-gay campaign against me and these letters only motivate me and demonstrate the need to continue being active against homophobia in our society and against our government." Cooper has reported the threats to the AIDS Council of New South Wales' (ACON) anti-violence project, and calls upon all activists to speak up against these acts of intimidation.