Fridae

A New South Wales study released on Tuesday - the biggest investigation into anti-gay violence in Australia since 1994 - has found that homophobia occurs almost as frequently now as it did during the mid-1990s.

According to a report on news.com.au, the study involving 600 people identifying themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, which was carried out between March and August this year, has shown a similar level of abuse in 2003 as that reported in a study they had done a decade ago.

Steven Drew, director of the Crime Prevention division of the Attorney-General's department, said about 56 per cent of homosexuals surveyed experienced some form of abuse - almost the same figure as in 1994.

The results of the report showed young homosexuals and lesbians were most vulnerable to discrimination. It also found that 75 percent of respondents did not know the perpetrators, unlike other abuse victims.

The study, which had involved eight focus groups to look at the experiences of people from different ethnic backgrounds or of different ages, also highlighted some of the cultural differences behind homophobic abuse.

More than half reported being physically assaulted with or without a weapon, including sexual assault, or have been a victim of abuse including spitting, offensive gestures, stalking and threats.

Mr Drew told The Australian said that among the most surprising results were prejudices within the gay community itself as the study revealed that Aboriginal gay and lesbian people were not only subjected to homophobic hostility but also racism, which also came from other gay and lesbians.

Researchers also found that gay men and lesbians of Middle Eastern background had a different experience as responders indicated that "most of the violence that they experienced or were likely to experience was from within family group."

Co-convenor Rob McGrory of the national Gay and lesbian Rights Lobby said the report should ring alarm bells as it reveals a failure by the NSW Government to stem the tide of homophobic hate in society.

"Violence against gay men and lesbians... has remained at alarmingly high levels since this sort of hate violence was first documented," he said.