At least 5 gay men were severely bashed in Perth, Western Australia, earlier this year by a man who misrepresented himself on Grindr and lured them to parks at night. I confess personal connection to this case; one of the victims is a close friend who has been deeply traumatised. Another victim has critical head injuries.
In an era where, to quote the liberal media, LGBT people are apparently “literally fighting for their lives”, one would think this would be major news. There were only two small mentions in the mainstream news: a four sentence article at the bottom of page 14 of the West Australian newspaper on March 14 and a small news segment that has been posted online:
https://thewest.com.au/news/crime/gay-bashing-bc-5357468909001
To Channel 7’s credit, they are doing more than would be expected from the mainstream media in a conservative state. What is disappointing to me is that there is no mention of these events anywhere in the gay press. I can find no coverage on outinperth.com or starobserver.com.au. Samesame.com.au is down (oh no! how else will I find out when Mardi Gras is?), but a search of the archives reveals nothing. If someone could prove me wrong on any of this, I would be very happy.
I know for a fact these gay bashings were being discussed in person and online as they were occurring. The Perth gay community is a one degree of separation kind of place and I find it inconceivable that those running the gay media did not hear about them.
Why the silence?
Maybe it’s because cis gay men aren’t ‘intersectional’ enough to be allowed as the face of LGBT victimisation, even when being chased and stomped on.
Maybe gay men cruising for anonymous sex in parks is too old fashioned for the new ‘queer’ rendering of smiling transgender children and resistance rallies. It wouldn’t fit the narrative pushed by the sanctimonious marriage queens, either.
Maybe had this story been published early in the bashing season some men may have been saved. Instead, it fell victim to the identity politics and infighting that is tearing apart the LGBT community. In the 1980s dozens of gay men were murdered on Sydney’s Northern beaches and the media never reported it. I feel deep shame that today the silence is from our own community.
NB. In the course of my gay media research I ended up pouring through a lot of clubbing photos and I have some advice for the twinks: if you’re going to party with your jeans half down your bum, don’t wear your Kmart undies.
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