Media Release
Tuesday January 13th 2025
LGBTIQA+ Jewish group call for broader protections in proposed anti-hate bill
Attacks on LGBTIQA+ Community Parallel Anti-semitic Attacks
An Australian Jewish LGBTIQA+ group wants the Federal Government to prohibit hate speech against LGBTIQA+ people as well as the Jewish community.
Aleph Melbourne spokesperson, Michael Barnett, said
“It makes no sense to us that half our identity is protected from hate and the other half isn’t.”
“The same ideology is being used to drive attacks on both the LGBTIQA+ and Jewish communities. Neo-Nazis and white supremacists want to eradicate gay and trans people as much as they want to eradicate Jews."
"This is one reason why the Executive Council of Australian Jewry has in recent years backed greater protections for LGBTIQA+ people."
"We call on the government to treat anti-LGBTIQA+ hate as seriously as Anti-semitic hate. There is no room for either in Australia.”
The Government today released a bill responding to the Bondi tragedy by prohibiting vilification and hate-motivated crime on the basis of race, but no other attributes.
Spokesperson for Just.Equal Australia, Rodney Croome, said,
“Passing laws against only one kind of hate means other forms are seen as legitimate and less deserving of a response.”
“One important lesson from the Bondi tragedy is that the Government shouldn’t wait until attacks escalate before taking tough action against hate."
“National hate speech and hate crime laws should cover LGBTIQA+ people as well as all other Australians vulnerable to hate.”
"The Prime Minister has said 'more could have been done' to prevent the Bondi attack, so let's now do more, not less."
There has been an alarming increase in the number of anti-LGBTIQA+ attacks in recent years, often overlapping with antisemitism:
http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/melbourne-golf-club-vandalised-with-anti-semitic-homophobic-graffiti/195492
http://www.outinperth.com/alarm-as-anti-gay-messages-and-nazi-graffiti-found-in-melbourne/
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-23/transgender-flags-vandalised-at-hobart-town-hall/100643254
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-22/two-charged-after-protest-outside-mark-latham-speech/102127830
http://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/hate-crime-safety-concerns-after-sydney-s-latest-anti-lgbtq-attack-20230831-p5e0wf.html
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/nazi-salutes-performed-on-steps-of-victorian-parliament-as-protesters-clash-over-transgender-rights/yr7gzkevn
http://www.outinperth.com/monash-council-cancels-drag-storytime-event-following-violent-threats
http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/victoria-news/drag-performers-are-at-the-receiving-end-of-alt-right-attacks-in-melbourne/223642
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Cumberland_book_ban
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-25/albany-council-rejects-calls-to-ban-sex-education-books/104388258
https://qnews.com.au/gay-bar-laird-hotel-graffitied-with-homophobic-vandalism/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-23/teenagers-detention-grindr-attacks-men-perth/105807670
https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/pride-flags-in-tasmania-vandalised-as-pride-month-commences/237057
http://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-crime/2025/07/19/apps-used-baiting-tools-homophobic-attacks
https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/tasmanian-memorial-for-transgender-woman-marjorie-harwood-vandalised-again/235912
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1185885/Private-Lives-3.pdf
35% had experienced verbal abuse, including hateful phone calls
24% had experienced being spat at and offensive gestures
22% had experienced written threats of abuse via emails, social media
15% had experienced threats of physical violence, physical attack or assault without a weapon
11% had received written threats of abuse
4% had deliberate damage to property or vandalism of a house
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For more information contact Michael Barnett, co-convenor, Aleph Melbourne, 0417 595 541, or Rodney Croome, Just.Equal Australia, 0409 010 668
