Sydney may be getting some gay heroes. GenerationQ founder and hate crime survivor Andrew Stopps put a call out for well-trained queers to join a new "Street Angels" team. The team will dedicate itself to patrolling gay ghettos and deterring potentially attackers. Says Stopps:
We are looking for volunteers who are in the armed forces, police, security or have medical training to join the Street Angels.
Training will be provided to make sure the Street Angels have boundaries and guidelines and that’s where we will work with the police to make sure they are there to support.
We are not looking for vigilantes, but for trained people to help keep people safe… We are hoping that just by being visible at events and on the street, the Street Angels’ presence will make people think twice before attacking or acting in a threatening way.
The move comes after a rise in anti-gay violence in traditionally gay-friendly areas.
Though Stopps wants to work with coppers, a police spokesperson says they do not endorse the formation of "vigilante groups". Mayor Clover Moore, meanwhile, "understands" Stopps intentions, but doesn't necessarily endorse the group's formation:
While I understand the community frustration motivating this latest proposal, I would be seriously concerned if it resulted in community members attempting to do the job of the police or taking the law into their own hands.
We can't imagine what Bill O'Reilly would have to say about this one…
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Fucking awesome concept.
Years ago we were going to start a group called the West Hollywood Gun Club.
I love nothing more than become the gay DOG, the
basher..basher.
Jack Jett
Self defense groups are a wonderful idea, but if it’s not done right it’ll end in disaster.
I’m not referring to doing what has to be done if they come at you, that’s different. We don’t want victims. If running away will save you, run. But if you can’t, go for the throat. Signing up at a Dojo is another excellent idea; imagine their surprise at they swallow your foot.
The creation of self defense groups has to be seen as a protective measure to end antigay violence against us, not as aggression. The more people involved, such as unions, other groups subject to bashing like immigrants, African Americans, Native Americans, women's groups, and civil libertarians, the better.
It has to be massive. Heroic action figures and vigilante posses just won't cut it. That approach inevitably leads to victimization of our folks, demoralization, and ends up encourages the bashers.
To be successful self defense has be part of a broader campaign involving mass demonstrations against bashing. If those demonstrations take place on busy streets near the scene of a bashing and disrupt commerce and rush hour traffic that’s excellent.
We need alliance building with the groups I mentioned and others like religious groups. (Many of us, including myself are very antireligious but defense questions override that.) We should also demand that the police enforce the law and mount campaigns for harsh penalties for bashing, public exposure of bashers and lawsuits meant to bankrupt them, their parents and the antigay churches, mosques, etc. that are partners in crime with the bashers.
Hi,
I am Andrew Stopps, the organizer of the Street Angels. I want to make very clear and maybe this wasn't emphasised enough in the article, that the Angel's role is one of supporting the police and diffusing potentially violent situations only. This is not in any way a vigilante group.
No one will be super heroes or getting physical.
The Angels will be present in known "hot spots" to make sure that people can leave and enter venues without the threat to thier own safety. If things get out of hand, the first response of the angels is to call the police and to try and calm people down and provide medical assistance if needed. This use of the "vigilante" word is completely the opposite of what we are trying to do.
Andrew, my comments were general and not a criticism. I went to bars on Santa Monica for years and would have been relieved to see you in action. Maybe they were adressed a bit to JJ above, but still not as a criticism. I had a lot to do with self defense for the antiwar movement and those were just a summation of our experiences. I apologize because I seem to have given you the wrong impression.