Summer in the (anti-violence) city

It’s been hotting up for ACON’s Anti-Violence Project (AVP).

We’ve just celebrated the arrival of the 2000th This Is Oz image, contributed by Melbourne’s Emma Rose.

This Is Oz continues to go from strength to strength in making it clear that homophobic abuse and violence never was, and never is, OK.

Check it out at www.thisisoz.com.au and join us on our burgeoning Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/thisisoz

We’ve also been working with the amazing Harbour City Bears on their summer “Bears look after their mates” campaign. In going there about domestic violence, the Bears are taking a furry courageous and groundbreaking stand.

Stay tuned for other Bear campaigns over summer.

In November, the AVP was one of only 17 recipients nationwide to receive a Commonwealth grant for domestic violence program work. In acknowledging the reality of LGBTI domestic and family violence, the grant also testifies to the huge amount of work that has gone on in New South Wales to raise awareness about the issue.

As then Social Inclusion Minister Tanya Plibersek said, “By developing an education and reporting campaign on the impacts on violence in LGBTI communities, we’ll be able to support the victims of violence, as well as their families and friends”.

We’re also excited to be working with Surry Hills Police on their Oxford St “Summer Street Safety” campaign which aims to strengthen relationships between the police and Sydney’s LGBT communities. Last weekend we were outside the Stonewall and the Midnight Shift.

The AVP is also developing a “Summer Safety Ambassador” program for roll-out together with a re-launch of the successful Speak Up against homophobic violence campaign

“Speak Up” encourages people to contact the AVP or police to get support or information.

Reports of homophobic violence increase during summer. Reporting incidents of homophobic violence helps us help you to get support. It also helps us to track and monitor anti-LGBT incidents with the aim of providing safer community spaces for all of us. Our city, our streets, our safety.

If you feel unsafe, have been attacked or harassed, please call the AVP on 02 9206 2116 or 1800 063 060, [email protected] or send a report:
http://www.acon.org.au/anti-violence/What-We-Do

To report to police, call 000 in an emergency or, for non-urgent matters, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

By Robert Knapman
Anti-Violence Project (NSW)