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New Rural and Regional Project underway

// June 6th, 2011 // No Comments » // AVP news, Within Victoria

A project worker has commenced at the Anti-Violence Project of Victoria Inc. (AVP) to progress the AVP’s new initiative which aims to link GLBT & allied community state-wide to address, connect and respond to homophobia and the violence that comes from it in Rural and Regional cities and towns.

Project worker Zhitian Zhang has commenced developing this new and innovative initiative which will see Rural & Regional Victoria linked through a network of individuals who will support people experiencing homophobic harassment, prejudice and hate motivated crime, and encourage and support them to access the AVP and report their experiences.

The project aims to link local individuals from Rural and Regional locations into a state-wide network to provide individual reporting support while further developing systems to share information. Growing existing support structure and developing a network of new supports where none currently exist, is an additional priority aim underpinning this new AVP project.

AVP also intends to further enhance relationships between Victoria Police Gay & Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs), general duties Police members based in rural and regional locations and the GLBT community that lives alongside them.

In the process, the known data collected by AVP on homophobic harassment, prejudice and hate motivated violence and crime will be expanded. AVP executive director Greg Adkins said “we are confident that momentum gained from this new AVP project will fit well with the new Victoria Police Prejudice and Hate Motivated Crime Strategy which they are shortly to launch.”

The first “phase” of work will see the AVP lead discussions across the Victorian rural and regional communities in developing a name for the project and initiating connections between individuals keen to participate as local “champions” in their home town or city.

Keen to become involved? Perhaps in your local town or city? Want more information?
Contact Zhitian at the AVP by emailing him at zhitian@antiviolence.info

(This project was announced as part of the International Day Against Homophobia 2011, on May 17th)

Assault on Xmas night

// January 20th, 2011 // No Comments » // Incidents, Within Victoria

Detectives from Moreland Criminal Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses to an attack on two men in Brunswick on Christmas night which the Anti-Violence Project say appears to have been hate or prejudice motivated.

According to police, the two men aged, 39 and 28, had left a family Christmas gathering and were walking down Sydney Road about 9.30pm when the attack took place near the Barkly Square Shopping Centre.

Police said they walked behind a utility stopped in Sydney Road when they were attacked by two men from that vehicle.

After the initial attack a second vehicle pulled up and several people from this vehicle also joined in the attack.

During the incident a 39-year-old man was assaulted in the middle of the road where he was punched and kicked.

The second man, 28, who had been attacked, tried to escape by getting into a taxi.

The men attacking him tried to pull him from the taxi and continued to assault while he was in the vehicle.

Police are appealing for any witnesses who saw a white colored utility parked in the middle of Sydney Road near the intersection of Weston Street.

This was the vehicle the first group of attackers came from.

Police are also appealing for any witnesses who saw a dark colored sedan parked at the side of the road with the front passenger door open.

The second group of attackers came form this vehicle.

The two men suffered facial injuries including cuts and bruising and were treated at hospital and released.

There was a large number of people around at the time who witnessed the attack and police are appealing for these people to contact police.

Police have been told that there may have been up to 10 men aged between 20 and 25 involved in the attack the attack.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or contact the website at www.crimestoppers.com.au and the Anti-Violence Project is available to support people in making contact with police or to discuss this incident further.

Reports to Crimestoppers are totally anonymous and protect the confidentiality of people making the call to them.

Footballer privacy scandal a reminder of cyber-safety for GLBT community

// December 21st, 2010 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Within Victoria

As news breaks about compromising images of three St Kilda footballers being posted on Facebook, the involvement of a 17 year-old girl in publishing these photos on her Facebook page and questions of how this all came to be, the AVP sees this as a timely warning to the GLBT community about protecting their personal privacy when on-line.

AVP head Greg Adkins says that this safety concern extends to meeting people on-line and providing them with access to homes within a few hours of first meeting.

Check out his comments in Melbourne’s gay and lesbian print media HERE.

New violence report received of harassment in St Kilda

// December 16th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Incidents, Within Victoria

A new report of homophobic harassment has been received from the St Kilda foreshore area near St Kilda Pier.

Two gay men were verbally harassed by groups of people numbering between three and four people, up to 15 people, as they walked to the pier. Some escalation of language appears to have taken place. More information will be posted here SOON.

Harassment and violence ALERT!

// December 15th, 2010 // No Comments » // Incidents, Media discussion, Within Victoria

Over each of tha AVP’s fourteen years of data collection, the 2010/11 Xmas and new Year period is shaping up as no exception with an increase in homophobic harassment and prejudice motivated violence against individuals in the GLBT community already appearing as the warmer days and nights of Summer bring more people out of their homes in the suburbs into areas with diverse communities.  Add alcohol, groups of men, testosterone to ignorance and homophobia and its a potent mix for violence.

Starting in October, two men were hunted down in Collingwood by a four person gang with “the intent (according to Detective Senior Constable Matt Archer) to assault and to assault homosexuals”.

Read more about this incident HERE and further gay print media coverage HERE

The AVP asks anyone, with information that might assist police in locating the fourth suspect, to call police on 000 or make contact with the AVP on 0407664442.

Visionary leadership shown in Brumby government’s vision for the GLBTI community

// October 26th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // AVP news, Media discussion, Within Australia, Within Victoria

The Anti-Violence Project of Victoria (AVP) welcomes state premier John Brumby’s announcement of major social policy initiatives supporting GLBTI community as visionary and ground breaking.

AVP head Greg Adkins said “If Mr Brumby is successfully re-elected at the 27 November state election, the $2.5million next-stage of the Labor government’s decade long commitment to celebrating diversity and ending discrimination and violence in our society will deliver:

• The establishment of a whole-of-government advisory committee on GLBTI issues
• Provision of $200,000 over four years to the Anti-Violence Project of Victoria to support victims of homophobia and help GLBTI people to report physical or verbal abuse or harassment
• An investment of $100,000 in a campaign to reduce homophobic harassment and highlight the contribution of GLBTI communities in Victoria
• Strengthening of laws against homophobic harassment

In addition a re-elected Brumby Labor Government would continue its support for same-sex attracted youth by:

• Providing $320,000 over four years to build on a pilot project to help combat homophobia in schools. This project, delivered through Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, would develop and distribute quality resources to schools, provide professional development to staff to support students and school communities, help develop a whole-of-school approach to combating homophobia, and help develop students’ own networks and further builds on work by the government which is already underway;
• Establishing a $500,000 grants program over four years to help 10 projects a year provide a safe space for same-sex attracted youth, informal mentoring and peer support; and
• Investing $500,000 in a partnership with Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, Sane and Headspace to train health professionals in helping same-sex attracted youth at risk of suicide

Further to this, the GLBTI community will be asked to step-up and determine what its “voice” would look like and where the provision of a GLBTI community voice will find a home, after the Brumby Government committed a further $100,000 a year for four years for a GLBTI peak body to represent the interests and act on behalf of the community.

The Anti-Violence Project notes that the Premier’s announcement is the first ever of this magnitude by a head of an Australian state or federal government setting-out a plan to deliver state-wide social policy initiatives to ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals and communities are (in the Premier’s words) “safe, valued and respected.”

“Brumby’s GLBTI policy initiatives are further evidence that the ground has shifted politically in Victoria.  The AVP invite all other political parties to come on-board to support the Labor government’s  leadership in seeking to provide more support and a real voice for the GLBTI community.

Read the complete announcement from the Premier: More support and a real voice for the GLBTI community.

Alert – Potential Danger in Footscray

// October 24th, 2010 // No Comments » // Incidents, Media discussion, Within Victoria

The Anti-Violence Project today urged gay men visiting the Footscray Park area to remain alert for potential dangers following the receipt of reports of homophobically motivated physical assaults in the area.

AVP head Greg Adkins said two separate reports have been received that gay men have recently been assaulted in the park. “We ask anyone in the GLBT community living nearby to Footscray Park or travelling past, to be vigilant and adopt protective behaviours especially when groups of males are moving through the park or adjacent areas.

“Anyone with information is urged to contact the Anti-Violence Project and either make an online violence report, speak directly with someone from the AVP by calling 0407664442, or leave a messages for the AVP to follow-up on 03 9660 3970.

“If you feel unsafe call Police 000 and move away from danger. When safe contact the AVP,” he said.

Respect Agenda Round Table

// September 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // AVP news, Media discussion, Within Victoria

AVP head Greg Adkins said today that community leaders were left with a sense that real movement is taking place in Victoria that ensures promoting understanding of difference and diversity has an equal place at the table in the Government of Victoria’s Respect Agenda.

Respect Minister Justin Madden and host, Cabinet Secretary and MP for Prahran, Tony Lupton have put the issues driving homophobia and harassment firmly within the Respect Agenda at a GLBTI Respect Agenda Round Table held in Prahran on Thursday 23 September 2010 (check out the participants here).

Two clear messages came forward. Its the start of generational change. And more work will come to ensure the issues of respect impacting community groups are better aligned. Together can then partner with the government to continue to build respect into its whole-of-government work and state-wide strategy of building respect in Victoria.

Yarra Flats Park sexual assault – information sought

// September 15th, 2010 // No Comments » // Incidents, Media discussion, Within Victoria

If you know the Yarra Flats Park area and have seen or heard of any information that could assist Police in their investigations of a sexual assault of a 13 year-old boy, the AVP urges you to come forward and speak with Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au

This man (pictured) is believed to have sexually assaulted a 13-year-old boy in Eaglemont, in Melbourne’s north-east as he was walking along a bike path in the Yarra Flats Park, around 5.45pm (AEST) on Thursday, August the 19th.

He is described as being aged between 50 and 60, with a medium build, a fair complexion and weathered face, short grey curly hair and a bald patch.

If you need assistance to talk with police on this matter, please contact AVP on 0407664442 or email vicavp@antiviolence.info

Image of man is available online HERE.

Update from Police – Malvern assault investigation

// September 8th, 2010 // No Comments » // AVP news, Media discussion, Within Victoria

Victoria Police media report that all five suspects involved in the assault of a Caulfield North man last Thursday 2 September at the Malvern Railway Station have been identified.

Some members of the gay and lesbian community witnessed the assault and were encouraged to provide information to police by the AVP.

Police report that the men have all surrendered themselves after seeing themselves following media coverage of the incident.

Four of the five men involved in the assault have been interviewed over the past five days.

Malvern Police interviewed the first man, an 18-year-old from Frankston North after he surrendered himself to police at the Frankston Police Station on Friday 3 September.

An 18-year-old from Carrum Downs was arrested and interviewed on Sunday 5 September and two 15-year-old’s from Frankston North and Carrum Downs were interviewed on Tuesday 7 September.

A 17-year-old from Carrum Downs is expected to be interviewed by police in the coming days.

All five men have co-operated with police and assisted with enquiries.

They are expected to be charged on summons for assault related charges at a later date.

Victoria Police say that as a result of media coverage, a large number of witnesses also identified themselves and Police wish to thank the public and media for their assistance.