Queer bashing: the new black
Two cases illustrate the entrenched homophobia in influential sections of Australian society that persists despite widespread acceptance GLBT people and probably majority support for same sex marriage.
An article in today's paper entitled Judge orders lesbian killers to be separated in jail shows some clear biases in the media and judiciary. During my time in Perth, there have been other killings, but it seems to me that the language used by the police, judiciary and media to describe the events and actors in this murder betray a contempt for the killers based on their sexuality.
THE lesbian lovers who murdered 16-year-old Atwell schoolgirl Stacey Mitchell, kissed over her lifeless body then dumped her in a wheelie bin, have been jailed for a minimum of 24 years.
I cannot recall the sexuality of heterosexual killers being paraded around the media in this way. Has anyone seen a headline "Heterosexual Killer Gaoled"? I didn't think so. Furthermore, at the risk sounding callous, and not excusing their actions, the details of their crime are objectively no more abhorrent than the details of other murders. Yet it seems that their crimes were labelled "perverse" by the judge, whereas this is not a commonly used description.
Another article entitled Homophobic thug jailed for appalling assault details how a man knocked out another man and then stomped on his head, because the victim made an advance toward the perpetrator. The judge imposed a sentence of 20 months, whereas this crime seems more in the range of attempted murder.
However, it is judge Wayne Chivell's remarks that worry me. Head said to the perpetrator "This involved serious and mindless violence inflicted upon another person while you were in the safety of a group of young men your own age." In effect, he is saying that he had no need to assault the victim because he was safe in a group. Implicitly, he is saying that, had the perpetrator been alone, he would have had a reason. Mr Chivell should seriously examine whether he should remain a judge.
Just as worrying are a couple of the comments made about the story on the website:
not saying its this gay persons fault to be severly bashed but he should be more careful who he hits on. He shouldnt even be doing it.
and
Knock the guy out, fair enough... But then stomp on his head repeatedly... Enjoy the 8 month non parole period you idiot; Suffer in your jocks.
An article in today's paper entitled Judge orders lesbian killers to be separated in jail shows some clear biases in the media and judiciary. During my time in Perth, there have been other killings, but it seems to me that the language used by the police, judiciary and media to describe the events and actors in this murder betray a contempt for the killers based on their sexuality.
THE lesbian lovers who murdered 16-year-old Atwell schoolgirl Stacey Mitchell, kissed over her lifeless body then dumped her in a wheelie bin, have been jailed for a minimum of 24 years.
I cannot recall the sexuality of heterosexual killers being paraded around the media in this way. Has anyone seen a headline "Heterosexual Killer Gaoled"? I didn't think so. Furthermore, at the risk sounding callous, and not excusing their actions, the details of their crime are objectively no more abhorrent than the details of other murders. Yet it seems that their crimes were labelled "perverse" by the judge, whereas this is not a commonly used description.
Another article entitled Homophobic thug jailed for appalling assault details how a man knocked out another man and then stomped on his head, because the victim made an advance toward the perpetrator. The judge imposed a sentence of 20 months, whereas this crime seems more in the range of attempted murder.
However, it is judge Wayne Chivell's remarks that worry me. Head said to the perpetrator "This involved serious and mindless violence inflicted upon another person while you were in the safety of a group of young men your own age." In effect, he is saying that he had no need to assault the victim because he was safe in a group. Implicitly, he is saying that, had the perpetrator been alone, he would have had a reason. Mr Chivell should seriously examine whether he should remain a judge.
Just as worrying are a couple of the comments made about the story on the website:
not saying its this gay persons fault to be severly bashed but he should be more careful who he hits on. He shouldnt even be doing it.
and
Knock the guy out, fair enough... But then stomp on his head repeatedly... Enjoy the 8 month non parole period you idiot; Suffer in your jocks.