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International Day Against Homophobia on May 17 builds momentum in Victoria!

// May 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // AVP news, Within Victoria

International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) activity in Victoria is gearing up ahead of Monday May 17th.

Check-out http:/StopHomophobiaToday.com for the details on how to create YOUR “game-plan”, thoughts on how others put theirs into practice, and suggestions on how to “pass it on” to others.

You’ve probably guessed from the sporting analogies that this years theme encompasses one of the hardest aspects of homophobia to shift in society… “Speaking about Silence – Homophobia in Sport & Community”.

Heaps of individuals and groups are developing their “game-plans” and will upload videos talking about them. Many more are creating messages and photos. These will also be uploaded, as part of individual “game-plans”, and all will show how homophobia is about to be challenged, and challenged BIG TIME in the State of Victoria, Australia!

Check-out the many activities already underway or planned in the lead-up to IDAHO on May 17th and in the weeks and months beyond. Follow the link to the archive of last years IDAHO 2009 campaign here in Victoria, care of the National Library of Australia and the State Library of Victoria. See who our partners are for this year’s 2010 IDAHO (ourselves and many of our partners would be only too happy to accept offers of people wanting to volunteer or become involved in IDAHO or many of our ongoing activities). Get the telephone numbers and email addresses to contact us and perhaps even make a donation to help extend the scope of IDAHO activities in 2010.

All of this and more, by visiting Stop Homophobia Today!

OUT & SAFE Campaign Launch in Brunswick

// April 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // Within Victoria

OUT & SAFE is the Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby’s anti-violence campaign for Brunswick which addresses reports and anecdotal evidence of an increase in violence and harassment toward lesbians in Brunswick. Joined by Moreland City Council, local businesses, health providers, Brunswick police, (including Vic Pol’s Gay & Lesbian Liaison Officers) and local MPs this campaign aims to work towards decreasing instances of homophobic attacks and making Brunswick a safe place to be.

The campaign launch will have a performance by drag king extraordinaire Rocco D’Amore, just two or three SHORT speeches and some funky materials to take away with you.

Come hear about the campaign, what you can do to be involved, and meet representives of the Lobby and the Anti Violence Project at this casual launch party which is being hosted by the VGLRL and Jane Garrett, candidate for Brunswick.

AVP on-air with the Gay and Lesbian Liaison officers on JOY94.9

// April 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Within Victoria

Tune-in to JOY 94.9 now to listen to the VicPol Gay and Lesbian liaison officer, the AVP and JOY 94.9 and their weekly radio partnership.
If you want to SMS the show: +61427JOY949 (+61427569949) or email onair@joy.org.au

Vic Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s online Hate Crime survey

// April 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Research, Within Victoria

Please take time to check out the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s (VEOHRC) online Hate Crime survey which will assist them in preparing a submission to the review by retired Justice Geoffrey Eames into the laws dealing with crime, harassment and vilification motivated by hatred or prejudice. If you have experienced prejudice related crime, harassment or vilification VEOHRC would like to hear from you.

Check out the link to this survey HERE.

International Day Against Homophobia is coming

// April 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // Around the globe, AVP news, Within Australia, Within Victoria

Today around 80 countries in the world still criminalise homosexuality and condemn consensual same-sex acts with imprisonment. Of these, nine (Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen) still have the death penalty. Discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity is still not recognised formally by the member states of the United Nations (even though human rights mechanisms such as the Human Rights Committee have repeatedly condemned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity). This video comes care of ILGA.

Homophobic Violence in East St Kilda

// February 4th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Incidents, Media discussion, Within Victoria

Alert: Serious homophobic assault in local park – Attackers at-Large – Information required urgently.

In the early hours of Monday 25 January, a young man was assaulted and then slashed with a box-cutter or similar implement while taking a short-cut from Alma Road, East St Kilda, through Alma Park while making his way to Chapel Street.

Three men approached the victim using homophobic language before and during a physical assault. Demands were made for money. When the victim indicated he didn’t have any money for them, one man then slashed the right arm and leg of the victim with a box cutter inflicting 3cm deep gashes. The lead offender then threated to slash the man’s face. The victim managed to break free and made his way to a Coles Express on Dandenong Road – part of the service station immediately North of the park – where he sought assistance.

One of multiple possible witnesses to the assault waited for police at the service station and has provided valuable information to police. The victim of this assault spent 4 days in the Alfred Hospital for his serious injuries and is now recovering.

Further information: these three perpetrators were seen within the vicinity of the park for some considerable time using torches and making homophobic comments to other men in the park, and in some instances chasing these other men. To-date, no information has been received from anyone else who saw these three men, witnessed their behaviour, can describe them or was even threatened or victimised by them prior to the serious assault taking place.

MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO ENABLE THESE MEN TO BE APPREHENDED BEFORE FURTHER AND POSSIBLY MORE SERIOUS ATTACKS TAKE PLACE.

IF YOU PERSONALLY KNOW ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SERIOUS ASSAULT OR OTHER INCIDENTS PLEASE CONTACT CRIME-STOPPERS 1800 333 000. THE ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT CAN SUPPORT YOU IN MAKING CONTACT WITH POLICE.

Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’: Challenging Homophobia in Australian Schools

// January 20th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Media discussion, Within Australia, Within Victoria

Author of the soon to be published book “Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’: Challenging Homophobia in Australian Schools” has updated his website and is preparing for a national challenging homophobia tour of regional Australia. The AVP will the watch Daniel Whitthaus’ forthcoming book launch and tour with great interest and keep you up-to-date here.

Daniel’s website www.thatssogay.com.au is a great resource that will keep you up to date about the national tour and his book. He even has a detailed, downloadable tour calendar and ideas on how best to get involved and other promotional materials. Even more details about how to register in local areas will come online at the start of February.

You can also find Daniel through his Facebook Group for the tour – put ‘thats so gay tour’ in the search function.

For more information please contact:-
Daniel Witthaus
Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’
A National Challenging Homophobia Tour
web: www.thatssogay.com.auphone: +61 (0) 431 157 957

Midsumma Carnival – visit the joint AVP and VicPol stand!

// January 17th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // AVP news, Within Victoria

Drop in and visit the Anti Violence Project at our stand we are jointly running with Victoria Police at today’s Midsumma Carnival in Melbourne’s Alexandra Gardens.

Located only a few minutes from Flinders Street Station, this is a perfect opportunity to discuss your experiences of violence, to volunteer or get involved in AVP activities or to register your interest in playing a part in the 2010 International Day Against Homophobia activities occurring throughout Victoria between now and May 17th.

Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers from Victoria Police will be on hand.

Festive season safety

// December 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // AVP news, Within Victoria

The AVP wishes you a very safe and happy festive season and New Year.

2009 has been an excellent year in Victoria where we have moved forward in addressing homophobia the resulting hate and prejudice motivated crime that comes from homophobia. This year great partnerships have been strengthened between GLBT community organisations and between us and government – both local and state.

Even stronger partnerships have been forged with the other communities who also experience hate-crime. While the motivations there are based on cultural or faith differences, the similarities between hate-crime based on sexuality or gender orientation are strong.

Now is an excellent time to reflect that whenever and wherever we see violence occurring, whether it is prejudice motivated or spur-of-the-moment, we should always make a stand and do something. In Australia please call 000 and report violence to the police. In Victoria, when safe, please complete an on-line violence report to us so that we can continue our discussions fully aware of the impact violence has on our lives and in our community. To be silent about violence is the same as sanctioning it.

This coming year, 2010, will see further work take place to identify possible strengthening of laws to address hate-crime in Victoria. The AVP will continue to be a strong partner in the strategy development taking place with the ALSO Foundation and others about how to further address homophobia (for more information about the “With Respect Awareness Project” please contact ALSO’s interim-CEO, Kylie Smith by clicking here)

We are further progressing discussions with government about funding for the AVP to continue its great work with a much more longer-term focus which funding will provide. Work to-date, while significant in its scope and reach, has been vastly limited by the lack of funding.

Once again we would like to ask you to be safe and care for each other during this festive season and thank you for your involvement in our work addressing violence within and against the GLBT community in Victoria.

Greg, Jayne and Lauren,
AVP directors

Scoping Day for IDAHO 2010

// December 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // AVP news, Within Victoria

Today is the initial Scoping Day for next year’s International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) – May 17, 2010.

Community organisations from around Victoria will meet at City Village, 225 Bourke Street to start to scope the range of activities and community partnerships that will form the backbone to a state-wide IDAHO response in 2010.

The meeting kicks off at 4pm, Tuesday December 8, 2009, at the 10th Floor, City Village, 225 Bourke Street, Melbourne – lift to the 9th floor where community partner, Joy 94.9 is situated, then stairs to the Kulin Room on Level 10.

For further information or to register your interest, please email the AVP by clicking here or telephone the executive director +61407664442