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oxford street safety …
not exactly transgender (or gender diverse or whatever … those labels sure get in the way, sometimes, don’t they?) news … but i guess it’s a warning for us all, especially those partying along oxford street, sydney (sigh, bring back the good old days). if this is what happens to gay people on a monday night … imagine what it’s like on alcohol, methamphetamine and other drugs of choice fueled friday and saturday nights? i would suggest that this type of behaviour is closely related to lack of educaiton about alternative lifestyles and governments that just want to keep their heads in the sand regarding the lgbtqi plight (ok – call me a do-gooder). some may disagree with me, of course.
Quote:Six injured in Oxford St bashing spreeLocal News, By Matt Akersten, 12th August, 2010
A horror night on Sydney’s Oxford Street left six people bashed – two of them in hospital with serious injuries.
Police arrested a man in his 30s who swung karate kicks at several people walking down the ‘gay golden mile’ on Monday night.
Gay equality campaigner Simon Margan (pictured in hospital) was left with a shattered eye socket – he was victim number three of one man’s six-assault anti-gay rage, he believes.
Wearing chunky military-style boots, the man, believed to be aged in his 30’s, began his rampage from Taylor Square and continued to outside Gloria Jean’s two blocks away, around 9pm on Monday, Margan tells Same Same.
“I’d seen him before, tearing down gay event posters and mumbling about ‘eradicating gays’. He tried to kick me and at first he missed – I stood back, but he took aim, hitting me in the eye. I’d thought he’d had a knife.
“I screamed for help, as my face started bleeding. The attacker had been so calm. He didn’t say anything. I think his attacks were premeditated – he was doing it because he hated gays.” His assailant did not seem drunk, Margan adds.
Pain and shock
Margan arrived at St. Vincent’s Hospital at 11pm, where he was told his eye socket had been shattered. Still in pain, he tells Same Same this morning from his bed at home that his life has been “savagely torn apart”.
“I have to go to the plastic surgeon on Monday, once his swelling subsides. They say they’ll put in titanium mesh to stabilize my eye – I’ll have to have it in forever.
He plans to testify in court against his assailant, and encourages others to come forward to make a compliant to the police. “Sometimes people don’t follow these things up – but I feel like I have to, to avoid this happening to anyone else.”
Margan says he’d been attacked for being gay before, but never on Oxford Street. “I have heard of it happening to others but not to me.”
Surry Hills Police confirm that six people were injured on Monday night on Oxford Street. A male suspect was apprehended at the scene and is now facing nine charges. He has been refused bail. CCTV footage from along Oxford Street can be used in evidence in a criminal trial.
Speak up!
If you or someone you know experiences or witnesses violence around Oxford Street, the police are there to listen and respond to your concerns.
Reporting is essential in order for the authorities to respond to homophobic violence, to develop education and prevention strategies, inform our community of risks, and lobby governments for improved security.
http://www.samesame.com.au/news/local/5746/Six-injured-in-Oxford-St-bashing-spree.htm
my safety drill? keep well away from alcohol/drug infused people who are obviously hetero (i may be generalising, but guys – usually under 30 – particularly if they are in groups with no females amongst them) especially those outside or near “straight” clubs along oxford street; be prepared to walk/run away; and keep in mind safe havens (eateries, shops, clubs and pubs with bouncers outside (they will usually try to keep trouble makers (i.e. not you) away)).
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3 Replies
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Virginia,
That’s frightening, the whole idea of the redneck dare I say “chic” trying or starting to invade areas which are regarded as being free for all persuasions limits our safety zones. One would hope this is an isolated event and that there isn’t a trend towards this type of violence.
Helen
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helen – like i said – “sigh – bring back the good old days”. the ox is now more a raging bull. lots of clubs are now hetero and so there are queues of barely legal guys and girls waiting to get into these, fueled up and ready to go. friday night and saturday nights are a little scary, especially after 2:30 when cabs become scarce (driver change over is at 3:00). i’ve seen a few brawls over who hailed first. and that’s not even mentioning the gentle folk that get a kick out of driving their cars up and down the ox yelling obscenities at people who they think are gay, when in actual fact many of the people on the street are not glbtqi. maybe my view is heavily biased, but for me, things ain’t what they used to be. i hope they get better. from my observation, i can say that a part of this is a result of the local council trying to clean up and gentrify the street, thereby pushing up rents, making alternative lifestyle businesses struggle, and many having to move out. remember wigs international? and the shift is about to go west … replaced by what? seen any gays in palms? the street is resembling the cross moore and moore by the minute.
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Gee I’m glad that I live out in the west and don’t see Oxford Street at all really. I’ve heard a few stories here and there about people “copping it’ in the back streets but yeah, not on the main drag (pardon the pun). It’s a sad shame really to hear of these events.
Peta A.
