Launched in February 2009, the Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project’s ‘Speak Up’ campaign aims to increase the number of GLBT people who report homophobic violence to the police and to the Anti-Violence Project (AVP). Key partners for the campaign are NSW Police Force and City of Sydney.
Reports of homophobic violence to the AVP increase during the summer and fear of homophobic violence and hostility is especially high over the Mardi Gras period.
AVP co-ordinator Nancy de Castro said the Anti-Violence Project wants to motivate the GLBT community to report for reasons beyond the specific incident, to speak up in order to make the overall issue of homophobic violence visible. “Reporting is vital, we need to make sure police and the AVP have a true picture of when, where, and how often violence is happening in order for us to try to stop it”.
“Reporting is essential in order for police to respond to homophobic violence, and for the AVP and ACON to develop education and prevention strategies, inform our community of risks, and lobby governments for improved security.”
People can report to the AVP online via the ACON website or by calling 9206 2116. To report to police, don’t hesitate to call 000 in an emergency or, for non-urgent matters call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
In order to build the relationship between NSW Police Force and the GLBT community, NSW Police have funded the development of a poster with a specific focus on reporting to police. The poster features Supt. Donna Adney, NSW Police Force GLBT Corporate Spokesperson and Surry Hills Local Area Commander.
Members of the NSW Police Force are a secondary target audience for the campaign. Through their role in distributing this resource, ‘Speak Up’ aims to improve police understanding of the existence of homophobic crime, the barriers to reporting, and the importance of reporting. By using a high ranking police officer the campaign aims to promote an attitude of zero tolerance towards homophobia within NSW Police Force.
City of Sydney has donated the use of poster display space on 30 bus shelters throughout the local government area.
The ‘Speak Up’ campaign encourages community members who have experienced violence to make contact with the AVP in order to access support, information and referral. Accessing support services earlier rather than later helps to reduce the impact of the violence and can also be a first point of contact for community members who can then be referred to other services.
Other funders of the ‘Speak Up’ campaign are South East Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service and the Department of Corrective Services Victim’s of Violence Crime Grants Program.
Download the posters
AVP Speak Up Female (PDF)
AVP Speak Up Male (PDF)
AVP Speak Up Superintendent Adney (PDF)
More info
Contact: ACON's Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project
Tel: (AVP Report-Line) (02) 9206 2116
Free call: 1800 063 060
E-mail: avp@acon.org.au