03/18/2002 ""Gutless gangs" do over the beats"

"Gutless gangs" do over the beats
- (MCV)

Openly gay Port Phillip Cr Darren Ray says he is fed up with "gangs of gutless wankers" terrorising gay men.

Ray, a member of the Port Phillip [Council] Gay and Lesbian Advisory Committee, said the gangs of young men who carried out gay bashings were similar to those who gang raped women. "These low lives will always exist so long as they have larger egos than IQs and a cowardly pack mentality prevails. "Whilst it may be controversial to say this, I think it is time for community leaders from some sections of different cultures and areas to own up to the fact that they have a problem with aggressive, homophobic and misogynist young men terrorising innocent people."

Ray, the councillor for Alma ward, was commenting on the recent bashings at gay beats in Alma Park, St Kilda, and Point Ormond, Elwood.

He says the council had worked closely with police, gay groups and local residents to improve security in the park following a spate of about 10 gay bashings and near-murders there two summers ago.

This is the first major reported incident since new security lighting was installed last year. A resident who lives next to the park says the brutality of a recent machete attack has left him fearing for the day when someone is killed there. Gregory Horn, who is also a member of the City of Port Phillip gay and lesbian advisory committee, said he had no doubt the two recent attacks were "gay-related bashings". He said the park was a very well established meeting place. "It's a convenient way home from Chapel St to St Kilda.

It's very popular, especially on a warm night. "The beat is not the issue; the issue is homophobia. It's also about freedom of association for people to gather at any time of the day or night, whether it's to walk their dogs or to meet other people. "The places where men gather need to be made as safe as possible. That doesn't mean closing them down. It means making them safe." Ray said the council was also concerned that improved security measures should not "kill the beat". 'We drew a line in the sand early and said that whilst some residents wanted the beat closed down, attempts to do so would not only fail but also be counter-productive on a number of fronts.

MEN IN CUSTODY

Four 19-year-olds and one 18-year-old, all from the western suburbs, have been charged with two recent machete attacks at gay beats in St Kilda and Elwood.

The charges include armed robbery and intentionally causing serious injury.

One of the men has been released on bail,

The men will appear again in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on May 24.

Detective Sergeant Glen Davies told 'MCV' that in the first attack a group of men disguised themselves with bandanas and hats before assaulting a man riding through Alma Park, St Kilda, early on Thursday morning, February 28. "They kicked and punched and hit him over the head with a machete, then searched his clothing."

The injured man was taken to the Alfred Hospital and released after receiving stitches to a 20cm head wound.

The second attack happened about 4am the same morning at nearby Point Ormond in Elwood, another beat. Davies said when the gang attacked a man, another man came to help him and was attacked too.

Police later recovered a 70cm machete near the scene.

Davies said police wanted to hear from anyone else who had been assaulted.

"We want the community to know we are serious about investigating these crimes."

Anyone with information regarding these attacks should contact police gay and lesbian liaison officer Melinda Edwards on (03) 9247 6944.