NSW Police To Deploy More Personnel On Oxford Street After Sydney Anti-LGBT Attacks
Image: Sydney MP Alex Greenwich. Image: Instagram
NSW Police will deploy more personnel this weekend on Oxford Street, following multiple reports of the LGBTQI community being targeted in Sydney’s gaybourhood in the past two weeks.
Trigger Warning: This story discusses anti-LGBTQI attacks, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or .
“I’ve spoken to NSW Police who are aware and investigating the instances of anti-LGBTQ abuse that occurred around Oxford Street recently,” out gay Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said in a video post on Instagram.听
“They will increase policing this weekend to keep our community safe, and I look forward to joining them in walking around venues over the coming weeks to hear about your experiences first-hand,” said Greenwich, adding, “I鈥檓 committed to keeping our community safe, and ensuring we can go out and have a good time.”
Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore responded to Greenwich’s post and send out a message of solidarity. “Sydney is an inclusive, diverse city and everyone has the right to feel safe here. I’m glad the police are taking this seriously and echo your call for people to report any such incidents,” Moore said.听
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Weekend Attacks On Oxford Street
Over the past two weekends, there were at least three reported incidents where unidentified men accosted LGBTQI community members on Oxford Street and verbally or physically assaulted them.
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Subritzky revealed that on Monday, April 17, 2023, an unidentified man called him a “faggot” and punched him at聽 Five Star Kebabs on Oxford Street. The man fled before the police arrived.听
Last weekend, there were two separate incidents where police were called in after the LGBTQI community members were targeted.听
On Saturday night, unknown men verbally assaulted two drag queens on Oxford Street, calling them “paedophiles鈥� and 鈥渨aste of sperm”. Other community members came to their rescue before the police arrived at the scene. No arrests were made.
On Sunday, April 23, 2023, around 2.15 am, two men got into an altercation with a 21-year-old gay man and his 18-year-old partner near Crown Street.
They pushed the 18-year-old to the ground and suffered minor injuries. Police said they arrested a 21-year-old man and a 19-year-old man in the case.
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Attacks On LGBTQI Community In Sydney
Sydney’s LGBTQI community have expressed concerns following reports of violence in the past three months by far-right men. Unidentified men and .
In March 2023, in Sydney, loudly chanting the Lord鈥檚 Prayer and intimidating passersby. 聽This was followed by a 鈥楳en鈥檚 Rosary Crusade鈥� outside St Mary鈥檚 Cathedral.
On March 18, . Days later, around 250 far-right men rushed out of St Michael the Archangel church in Belfield in Southwest Sydney and attacked LGBTQI activists who were peacefully against a speech by One Nation MLC Mark Latham.
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If you have experienced or witnessed an anti-LGBTQI attack on Oxford Street, report it to Surry Hills Police either in person or by calling 9265 4144. If it鈥檚 an emergency always call Triple Zero.
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Fact is…. Oxford Street is becoming the new “Kings Cross” and the clientele is very very mixed.
This is entirely unacceptable. This is NOT free speech. This is deliberate bating by these individuals to cause trouble.
The police must take action to prevent violent attacks and Homophobic/Transphobic abuse.
We are not breaking the law – they are. These individuals must face the consequences of their action – or our society will regress 50 years.
There must be zero tolerance of this disgusting behaviour.