03/18/2002 "GAY BASHINGS TO RISE FOLLOWING ATTACK ON KIRBY"

GAY BASHINGS TO RISE FOLLOWING ATTACK ON KIRBY
- Media Release

According to Tasmanian gay activists an increase in violent assaults against gay men is a likely outcome of Senator Bill Heffernan's recent attack on High Court justice, Michael Kirby.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that there is a clear link between homophobic comments by public figures and street attacks on gay and lesbian people.

"People who hate gays and lesbians will feel the viciousness which characterised Senator Bill Heffernan attack on Justice Kirby, and the link Senator Heffernan has wrongly drawn between homosexuality and paedophilia, give them permission to act violently", Mr Croome said.

"The isolation, fear and shame which already make life hard for young gay men will also be compounded by Senator Heffernan's attack."

Mr Croome said Senator Heffernan's allegations should have first been made to the relevant authorities and should not have linked homosexuality with child sexual abuse.

"The totally inappropriate way Senator Heffernan's has expressed his concerns clearly shows he is on an anti-gay crusade, the victims of which will be an untold number of ordinary gay and lesbian people."