Oxford St

[dreamer_easy]

Oxford Street, traditionally Sydney's gay mecca, has recently been the scene of some brutal gay-bashing. The gay community has criticised police, and organised a rally last weekend, which culminated in an unlicensed but peaceful march involving some "gratuitous hand-holding". :-) (The police respond that alcohol is the problem rather than homophobia.)

Comments

[the-cockfighter.livejournal.com]

thank you

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link to the report on the rally! I'll keep an eye out for further news on this. It's been many moons since I was up Oxford St, but even I felt safer there (same with Esrkineville) - I hate to think it's lost that comfortable atmosphere.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

I suspect the homophobia is aided and abetted by alcohol.

[big-n-happy.livejournal.com]

How's Rudd reacting? If I recall he was as gay-friendly as a conservative Christian opposing marriage is likely to be.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Interesting question - I suspect that it's a state or even local issue, so he's unlikely to be involved, but I'll keep an eye out.

[big-n-happy.livejournal.com]

If it's high-profile he'd need an official line, I'd think. Or atleast a convincing fudge.

[jhg.livejournal.com]

I would have presumed that the law is much the same in Australia: being pissed is neither excuse nor defence!

[the-cockfighter.livejournal.com]

A thank you because you care

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

*blushes*

[the-cockfighter.livejournal.com]

For the first time, in a long time and I assume since 1995, the Prime Minister had sent a message of support in the Mardi Gras Program guide this year. The message was essentially reinforcing his victory speech which had as one of its main themes that the Rudd Labor government was a government for all Australians.

[the-cockfighter.livejournal.com]

One of the speakers at the vigil had thought that those 58 federal laws that discriminated against same-sex relationships was silent consent to the way homosexuals are viewed by the wider community. And I would agree. In social reform, it requires a government to lead the community to get a real change in the way a group is viewed, whether aboriginal or homosexual.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

That's where Rudd can best contribute, then - getting rid of those discriminatory laws.

[hnpcc]

I know it's not a defence in Victoria, but excessive consumption of alcohol was (not sure if it still is) a defence in NSW. As in "I was so drunk I didn't know what I was doing therefore I'm not guilty."

I know it was in 1997, but I've no idea if it's been changed since then, although I'd certainly hope so.

And in agreement with the alcohol exacerbating the problem. Alcohol doesn't in general help with problems though. *shrug*

[jhg.livejournal.com]

Good heavens. I'm shocked!