Editor's Note: Please note that the Australia Day community vigil is once again scheduled to go ahead as planned (at the time of this article being published, the vigil was cancelled, as clearely reflected below). View this article for more information.
Within the last few hours the community vigil that was originally to take place on Australia Day has been cancelled, and Seven News has reported on Oxford Street no longer being safe according to council reports. One report told the story, the other did not. In this continually evolving and damaging story to the gay community, are pieces from different jigsaws being put into the one puzzle, or am I just missing something?
Without going on for thousands of words, let me just drum out a few sentences to explain my personal feelings of frustrations towards ACON. The anti-violence project safe space was launched in November. Some of the events that have taken place since the launch of the shop front; ’50 year old critical after Oxford Street attack’, Street Angels opposed by ACON to take to the streets, the brutal homophobic bashing of Craig Gee and partner Shane Brennen, ACON contacts mainstream press over community vigil – vigil is cancelled following hundreds of ‘alleged’ complaints, Ken Bryan is bashed after leaving a gay bar on Oxford Street on 1 December (World AIDS Day).
At this point, let me give you something to ponder. Have you seen so much negative publicity on the subject of violence in the Oxford Street area in the past few years in comparison to recent months? What has been the subject of discussions in the gay community in recent weeks? And how many stories have we heard of homophobic violence after the launch of the safe space? To me, there are some conflicting answers to these questions...
Some results from polls conducted by the Sydney Star Observer in recent months:
‘Is Oxford Street still safe for gays and lesbians?’ – 70.4 percent said no.
‘Are increased police patrols of Oxford Street enough to improve safety?’ – 65.5 percent said no.
‘Are community patrols a good move to tackle homophobic violence?’ – 56.1 percent said yes.
‘Do you think police are ignoring the escalation of anti-gay violence?’ – 70.5 percent said yes.
‘Do you support the Street Angels concept?’ – 75.7 percent said yes.
‘Would you attend a vigil in support of victims of homophobic violence?’ – 81.5 percent said yes.
Pondering all of the above data and recent events, the majority of the community does not think Oxford Street is safe, they have expressed a desire in increased community involvement, they have said that police are not adequately dealing with increased levels of anti-gay violence, and that there would be a significant attendance for the community vigil that was supposed to take place on Australia Day. Now let’s relate this to the AIDS Council of New South Wales; an organization that is designed to serve the community. Efforts by individual members of the community to attempt to resolve the issue of violence on Oxford Street has been refuted by ACON, ACON is using its time in the spotlight to demand more action from police over homophobic violence when members of the community have said that increased police presence on Oxford Street is not enough to improve safety, and finally the CEO of ACON suggested racial concern over the poster design for the previously forthcoming community vigil (resulting in its cancellation, even though over 80 percent of respondents to the SSO poll indicated they would attend such an event), when all it was supposed to do was give a perception of the Village People? Something doesn’t seem quite right to me...
The AIDS Council of New South Wales exists for a reason that most definitely needs to be addressed. But I am concerned. Out of the $9,663,512 in revenue that ACON received during the 2006/07 financial year, less than 7.7 percent of total revenue ($739,661) was spent on program materials and services. Should a non profit organization be contributing so little of its revenue to this area?
To finish off, here is one more figure. Over 2,200 criminal offences take place annually on Oxford Street and surrounding areas, with over half being assaults or robberies. Going by that figure alone, roughly 350 such incidents would have taken place since 24 November. And yet we have a ‘safe space’ on Oxford Street...
Tags:
glbt community,
homophobia,
Oxford Street
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7 comment(s) on this page. Add your own comment below.
A small poll of the people currently in the room brings light to the question: Why don't the Street Angels just start patrolling and escorting people to their card and taxi's, whether supported by ACON or not? It's clear they are all about $$$ and not about the community...
I support the vigil on Australia Day. After years of attempting to work with the Surry Hills police it's time to demand action from Surry Hill Police.
But despite being a good concept the advertising poster was poorly thought-out and clearly made without much knowledge of the diverse community we live in. Ben Veenkamp organised a protest on "Australia Day", or "Survival Day" as many people, (not just the aboriginal community), call it. Using imagery that looks like neo-nazi, white, male, pride propaganda. It offends me. Also the men are waving the flag of communist China. Does anyone else question why this flag was used? Did the designer think the flag was pretty without any knowledge it was China's?
Now ACON is again getting criticized for representing a maligned Aboriginal portion of our community. ACON provides lots of services for the community including running the Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project. ACON consults with the community about all of its decisions. It's accountable for every cent of its funding and to its members. If people have a problem with the way the organization is run, they should get involved and change the direction constructively. They are more accountable then Ben Veenkamp. He screwed up. He didn't do any research and then he pulled out and disappears when he gets the slightest piece of criticism. Thank you ACON staff & volunteers for not deserting the community every time you get criticized for trying something that doesn't quite workout.
This is one of the times I am ashamed to be a part of this community. One man tries to make a positive change and one organisation intimidated him enough until he felt all he could do was walk away. How can we fix this problem of violence when we are fighting amongst ourselves? If one person has the courage to stand up, he should never be taken down by another group who claim to represent US, he should be supported.
Clearly we do not know all the facts, what we do know for sure is that this man felt there was no way out, that he had no choice left but to stop something he was obviously passionate about. Whatever went on must have hurt him deeply.
The people who know what happened, those involved should take a long hard look at themselves and ask why does this sort of thing happen time and again.
I am sorry Ben that certain members of our community couldn't share in your vision, I am sorry for all of us. No wonder gay sydney is dying.
time to move to Melbourne I think...
To Jason: ACON get millions of dollars, Ben does not, ACON have a huge publicity machine including the girlfriend of the current CEO working at the Sydney Morning Herald, Ben does not, ACON does not consult the community, nor take community suggestions (the shop front is a perfect example) Ben did consult the community about the posters, you can only get involved with ACON if you tow the ACON line, Ben accepted help from anyone. Who has more to lose from this Vigil going ahead? Ben = nothing to lose ACON = public face,public money- for not doing what they claim they are about.
The vigil is still going ahead. The risk profile for the event is minimal. A lot of speculation is going around about who said what, but what matters more is that the community is pulling together in making this peaceful event and message of opposition to homophobic violence and official inaction succeed. See you all at Harmony Park, Surry Hills, on 26 January at 4pm. Anyone with ideas/resources for the event, please contact Brendan.Lloyd@yahoo.com.au
The vigil yesterday was good in that it allowed many to come together for the equality of all queers. It was also good to see that the organisers encouraged everyone to march for their rights on Oxford St as opposed to not marching. However there are forces at work here code named 'Matrix' or 'Mathrob' that we all publicly know by another name that were not as inclusive as what it appeared. As such it was disappointing that an indigenous GLBTI person was not there to give a welcome to country. Aboriginal people are gay people too & should have been given a voice after over 200 years of homophobic and racist attacks of their people. After witnessing those forces rejecting those who also spoke inspiringly that aboriginals are gay people too and deserve to have been there is a rejection of all GLBTI people who are willing to stop homophobia attacks. My question to those forces code named 'Matrix' or 'Mathrob' who reject aboriginals as being gay is how many more GLBTI groups are you willing to force others to exclude & split from our GLBTI community in through your personal financial & partnership interests?? No GLBTI person irregardless of colour should be excluded who are willing to fight for our rights with us.
frances: i have no problem at all with indigenous GLBT australians, in fact they SHOULD have been there talking. Who is "we all" who supposedly know me publicly? Where do you even get the idea that I am rejecting indigenous australians? i think you are confused, I will fight for GLBT aboriginals as well as ALL members of our community. I am angry because what was supposed to be a community event turned into a bunch of back stabbing queens who nearly upset the whole thing. I never once attacked or criticised the aboriginal community.
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