Speculation about the proximity of the incident to the area where an assault and attempted robbery of gay men took place and whether this past event was in any way related to this mornings stabbing and attempted robbery, has proved to be misplaced and the events are unrelated.

However if any individuals from the gay community were in the vicinity of the assault at approximately 3am, the AVP is urging them to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 with information. AVP can assist in supporting people contact police.

Further information from the updated information about this incident on Victoria Police News is available by clicking here.

Any people who were in the vicinity of the incident and have any information that could assist police in their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Gay and Lesbian Liaison police.

If any of us have issues about going directly to police and want assistance, the Anti-Violence Project and our volunteers are there to be supports to enable this to take place or ensure the information is exchanged. Visit our online violence reporting service (click tab at the top of this page) or click here!

Further information about this assault and robbery will be updated here.

In the meantime, visit report in the Southern Star newspaper by Andie Noonan (22 July 2010) by clicking here.

NOMINATED FOR MOST OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN OR INITIATIVE.

Anti Violence Project – for four areas of activity in 2010:-
*Playing a part of the Australian Football League Campaign (developed by AFL Players Association’s Dr Pippa Grange and Rob Mitchell);
*The “Out and Safe” Campaign (partnership between Cr Jane Garrett, Mayor of Yarra, the AVP, the Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby, Victoria Police Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit and Officers, local health services and businesses in the City of Moreland);
*Stop Homophobia Today and *IDAHO (led state-wide by AVP with primary partners Victoria Police GLLOs, the {also} Foundation, TransGender Victoria, JOY 94.9, Country Awareness Network (CAN), Way-Out, Family Planning Victoria and Yak, the Attorney General Rob Hulls, the VEOHRC, and many more individuals, groups and organisations from all parts of the state).

NOMINATED FOR GLHV AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING HEALTH INITIATIVE

Anti-Violence Project was nominated for “IDAHO 2010 – Speaking About Silence – Homophobia in Sports and Community”

NOMINATED FOR ACTIVIST OF THE YEAR

AVP Executive Director, Greg Adkins was nominated in this category.

(The {also} Awards take place on Monday 28 June 2010, 7:30pm at the National Theatre in St Kilda)

Check back for details on how to access the podcast of the show.

JOY 94.9 can be heard live in Melbourne on 94.9 or via streaming through http://joy.org.au/listenlive

Click here to check it out!

VicHealth’s Todd Harper, VEOHRC’s Helen Szoke, former Olympic swimmer Daniel Kawalski, who recently came-out about his sexuality to himself and the community and Gary Eade, Jason Akermanis’ coach, all participated in the launch before Caroline Symons took to the stage.

Check out “Come Out To Play”, a collaboration between Victoria University and Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria though this link to the GLHV portal.

A reminder that Doug will be comparing the Equal Love rally at the State Library of Victoria, Swanston Street, Melbourne this Saturday 15 May at 1pm… we’re giving Doug time to develop his great personal ‘game plan’s to tackle homophobia and transphobia. See Doug’s plan at StopHomophobiaToday.com

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!