It’s about respect

Okay, I admit it, I am a media whore. It seems I have been everywhere of late, though I can honestly say it was through no doing of my own.

Several projects I have been working on all came to a head at the same time, resulting in my being splashed across newspapers around the country.

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the homophobia-free zones Sydney Council has been toying with, particularly after the story appeared in one of those Sunday rags.

In case, like me, you have been hiding under a rock of late, here’s the plan.

Sydney City Council is planning on implementing homophobia-free zones on and around Oxford St, King St, Newtown, and Erskineville Rd, Erskineville. They would be similar to the alcohol and nuclear-free zones we have seen in the past, though I’m sure I’m not the only one who never takes their uranium outside the house.

The focus at this stage is on things like T-shirts, stickers, posters and badges being used to relay the message. Some say this sounds silly; others ask if that’s the total response. What’s it going to do for our safety? But that won’t be the sum of it.

Remember the days when a pink triangle or rainbow flag in a store window actually meant something? I would choose this venue over others because it was an indication of support for our community.

The homophobia-free zones, we hope, will have a similar impact.

In addition there will be training about homophobia for street users and businesses and even the possibility of some places being closed or reprimanded for failing to adhere to the message.

It is about increasing people’s awareness of the history of these gay precincts and asking the general public to respect that.

It might sound a tad twee, but it was just six months ago Verushka and I were walking to Stonewall when we were spat upon by patrons in line at one of the strip’s notorious straight venues.

And as I told the young man off, the security officers at the venue laughed and joked along.
It is unacceptable and people need to be taught to respect our space.

While I understand that declaring homophobia-free zones is by no means the entire solution, at least it is a step towards regaining some respect for our history in those areas.

In a perfect world every street, venue and location anywhere would be a homophobia-free zone, but until it is we have to make our move one street at a time.