Fix this text
LESBIANS ON THE LOOSE
Fix this textAPRIL 1992 ISSUE 28
Fix this textVOL. 3 NO. 4
Fix this textFREE
Fix this textDYKE ATTACK FIGURES RELEASED
Fix this textA report on anti-lesbian violence compiled by the Lesbian
Fix this textand Gay Anti-Violence Project shows a large proportion of
Fix this textattacks on lesbians are part of ongoing harassment by
Fix this textsomeone known to the victim. In a report due to be released
Fix this textin early May it is revealed that 25% of women who responded
Fix this textto the Off Our Backs survey conducted by the Gay and
Fix this textLesbian Rights Lobby between December '9O and June '9l
Fix this textknew their assailant. Of all the attacks on the 45 respondents
Fix this text25% were verbal, 25% physical and 50% both physical and
Fix this textverbal. 50% of the women were attacked by groups of three
Fix this textor more men and 50% of the assaults were serious, i.e.
Fix this textneeded medical treatment. A significantproportion of attacks
Fix this textoccurred around Mardi Gras events. Only 10% of
Fix this textrespondents reported their assaults to the police, the main
Fix this textreasons being that there were no women liaison officers to
Fix this textreport to in their area, they thought the police would be
Fix this texthomophobic or that nothing would be done. 10% of the
Fix this textincidents were of police abuse. The women that did report
Fix this textwere happy with the service they received from the police.
Fix this textProject co-ordinator Kerrie Cheers says the statistics have
Fix this texttaken a long time to compile due to funding and time
Fix this textproblems. In the meantime the Count and Counter campaign
Fix this texthas been collecting statistics via personal interviews that
Fix this textwill be added to the Off Our Backs data. Some of these
Fix this textinterviews reveal frightening stories such as a woman who
Fix this textwas nearly bashed to death by a group of fundamentalist
Fix this textChristians after public speaking at the Domain. She has
Fix this textsince been harassed by the group, has had to move house
Fix this textand change jobs. Kerrie has also received reports of lesbian
Fix this textstreetworkers being verbally and physically abused. A group
Fix this textof lesbians and gay men in a Housing Commission block in
Fix this textDarlinghurst found a knife planted blade up after they were
Fix this texttold to take their AIDS virus elsewhere.
Fix this textKerrie has set up a consultative committee to compile the
Fix this textreport- similar to Streetwatch -and make recommendations.
Fix this textThese are expected to include a resource manual for
Fix this textgovernment departments, health care centres, educational
Fix this textinstitutions etc.; and encouragement for lesbians to report
Fix this textharassment and attacks. Kerrie would particularly like to
Fix this textfind out more about rape against lesbians who she suspects
Fix this textgo to Rape Crisis Centres.
Fix this textThe Anti-Violence Project is currently waiting for
Fix this textgovernment funding and provided it is received Kerrie
Fix this textplans to run a campaign similar to Streetwatch, focused on
Fix this textdykes, and a one-day forum to receive community input.
Fix this textA survey similar to Off Our Backs was conducted by a social
Fix this textwork student at the Lesbian Conference. The survey had
Fix this textmany more respondents - 329 - but also contains many
Fix this textsimilarities in its findings. It aimed at establishing levels of
Fix this textlesbian violence, and although it's likely that crime victims
Fix this textwere more likely to complete the survey than others, it
Fix this textfound that in the last 12 months 72% of women had
Fix this textexperienced verbal harassment, 40% physical intimidation,
Fix this text15% physical violence, 10% sexual assault, 13% domestic
Fix this textviolence, 20% property damage and 28% had experienced
Fix this textno harassment or assault. The survey also hints at lesbian
Fix this textdomestic violence in that 85% of domestic violence attacks
Fix this textinvolved female perpetrators. Levels of reporting to the
Fix this textpolice varied according to the offence, but it was only in a
Fix this textmajority of property offences that reports were made. 28%
Fix this textof people who didn't report felt negatively about police
Fix this textwhile 48% thought the offence wasn't serious enough or
Fix this textthat the police couldn't do anything. Of those that did
Fix this textreport, 33% found the police unsupportive.
Fix this textThese results are now in the hands of Sue Thompson, Police
Fix this textGay & Lesbian Consultant, who supplied them to LOTL.
Fix this textOne of the more encouraging findings of the Off Our Backs
Fix this textsurvey was that 35% of women physically attacked fought
Fix this textback. If that's the option you'd prefer and you'd like to learn
Fix this textself-defence the Anti-Violence Project will conduct self-
Fix this textdefence classes for lesbians and gay men on 4-5 April at
Fix this textDarlinghurst. Cost is $25/15 concession. For more
Fix this textinformation call Kerrie Cheers 360 6650. For those that live
Fix this textout west Blacktown Women's and Girls Health Centre will
Fix this textrun lesbian only classes in May and June for the same price.
Fix this textFor further details call Robyn McGrath at the centre on 813
Fix this text207 °. m
Fix this textFrances Rand
Fix this textOlder women march at IWD
Fix this textPhoto: Dianne Fairweather
Fix this textinside...
Fix this textiwcL.annie ling...coogee pooL.mardi gras photos...
Fix this textRegistered by Australia Post - Publication No. NBQ 4194
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
With your Trove account you can:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-884067386
(1990). Lesbians on the loose Retrieved August 7, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-884067386
Lesbians on the loose Newtown [N.S.W.]: Lesbians on the loose, 1990. Web. 7 August 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-884067386>
1990, Lesbians on the loose Lesbians on the loose, Newtown [N.S.W.] viewed 7 August 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-884067386
{{Citation
|
| title=Lesbians on the loose.
| year=1990
| issn=1324-6542
| issue=Vol. 3 No. 4 (April 1992)
| location=Newtown [N.S.W.]
| publisher=Lesbians on the loose
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-884067386
| id=nla.obj-884067386
| access-date=7 August 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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