HATE CRIMES ON THE RISE. YOUR HELP NEEDED

Hate crimes are on the rise again in Queensland with more and more gay, lesbian and transexual people being attacked according to community reports.

QNews has been made aware of a sharp rise in bashings mostly in and around Fortitude Valley and Spring Hill (notably in the peripheral areas), but also in Cairns.The reports have been of  violence targeted towards people because of their assumed sexuality.

Although QNews has received verbal reports, we are now asking anyone who has been attacked, threatened or abused this year to report it DIRECT and confidentially to QNews via our website.  
We need your help urgently, no matter where the hate bashing, abuse or threats occurred. Anywhere in Queensland or Northern NSW. If it happened this year to you; or you witnessed it, please advise us with the details you can remember urgently. All information will be treated with discretion.  We are trying to seek immediate help, support and action from our governments and we need a snap shot of just how bad things really are.  We can only achieve this with your help.

Qld Police deny there has been any significant increase in attacks or threats towards GLBTI community members because they have not taken reports indicating this. However, phone calls to QNews and other LGBT agencies are showing a different situation.

Please urgently go to  www.qnews.com.au/hatecrimes or to the front page of our website or phone David Wells  on 07 3017 1727, m-f, 9am-5pm and he will take your report.  These statistics are of vital importance even if you have reported your incident elsewhere.