By Philippa Skinner
SYDNEY — "Fuckin' dykes!" This outburst was the first in a string of verbal abuse and physical threats my companion and I experienced after we left the Bondi train station and were walking together through the adjacent mall.
It was just after 7 p.m., the mall was brightly lit, and some shops were still open. In passing the parked car, over which was draped four youths, in all their muscle-built confidence and glory, it took a second for it to sink in that they were actually addressing us.
Trying to ignore their harassment appeared only to infuriate them further — they were itching to flex their designer biceps and show us what real men were made of.
Only when we were at a relatively safe distance did I turn around and pretend to be writing down the number plate of the car. This resulted in absolute outrage from the three. "Get back here and we'll fuckin' bash you, you fuckin' dirty lezzos."
This sort of experience is not an uncommon one for many lesbians, and even for some "straight" women who may be perceived as being lesbian because they have rebuffed an approach by men. It can be a very infuriating and frustrating experience. And yet we were relatively "lucky" compared to the suffering and pain experienced by other lesbians in more violent attacks.
While the silence has finally been broken surrounding the widespread violence against women in our society — the systematic abuse of women in their homes, on the streets and in the workplace — little, if anything, has been done to address the specific issue of violence against lesbians.
"Five men wielding a broken bottle attacked a 23 year old lesbian in the street, outside a lesbian venue. The assailants stated that the right man would make her straight. The survivor sustained serious lacerations but did not contact the police or medical services, fearing further victimisation."
This is one of the real life stories from a study of violence against lesbians, initiated by the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL). Its results and recommendations were released in The Off Our Backs Report on September 7.
Launched at Parliament House on September 21 by then police minister, Ted Pickering, the Report paints a picture of punishment of lesbians for their sexual autonomy.
Eighty-four per cent of respondents said anti-lesbian verbal abuse was a feature of their attack. This highlights the misogyny involved in anti-lesbian violence. The nature of the verbal abuse suggests that erence towards men is a primary motivation for attacks.
Carole Ruthchild, former co-convener of GLRL, states in her introduction to the Report, "All of the participants in the survey felt that it was their lesbianism over and above their gender which motivated their attackers and prompted the assault(s). It is clear that lesbianism is perceived to merit a particularly vicious response."
The Report calls for far-reaching action on anti-lesbian violence, making 34 recommendations in law, policing, housing, education, the private sector, all levels of government and other sections of the community.
Only 10% of respondents reported their attack to police, which indicates that the majority of lesbians did not feel confident of receiving an adequate police response. The Report recommends that police begin in-service training for constables on the needs of lesbians and that appropriate training on anti-lesbian harassment and violence be given to a nominated officer at every police station in NSW.
In response to harassment that occurs at the workplace, there are calls for the Confederation of Australian Industry, other peak business bodies and the ACTU to develop policy guidelines and working parties to address anti-lesbian violence and homophobia.
The Report also recommends that hate crimes legislation be introduced into NSW requiring the courts to give special consideration when sentencing perpetrators of crimes of violence where hate or prejudice is a motive. It also recommends amendments to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 to make vilification on the grounds of actual or perceived lesbianism or homosexuality unlawful.
Carole Ruthchild states that "systematic violence against any group, whether motivated by sexism, homophobia or racism must not be tolerated by society. A clear signal must be given by government, the media and the schools, that anti-lesbian violence is no longer acceptable. Only then can we hope that the threats and the violence will stop."