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NEWS Whats Happening In The Southern Highlands

Crime and Violence in the LGBTQI+ Community: Why Unity Matters in the Southern Highlands

  • Writer: Sweet Release
    Sweet Release
  • Sep 28
  • 3 min read

Designed By Co-Founder Braeden Rhys, Advocacy Manager at The Real Homosexuals Of The Southern Highlands
Designed By Co-Founder Braeden Rhys, Advocacy Manager at The Real Homosexuals Of The Southern Highlands

The Ongoing Struggle for Safety


For too many LGBTQI+ people in Australia, violence and discrimination are everyday realities. In regional areas like the Southern Highlands, these struggles are intensified by social isolation and lack of services. From family rejection to systemic failures in policing and justice, queer people are still fighting to be safe, visible, and respected.


At The Real Homosexuals of the Southern Highlands, we know change is possible - but only if we unite. Our ethos is clear:


Gay By Nature. Highlands By Choice. We Are Equal.

Legal Failures and Historical Injustice


The legal system has long failed to protect queer lives. In Green v The Queen (1997), the High Court accepted that a non-violent homosexual advance could provoke lethal violence, a ruling that reinforced damaging stereotypes of queer people as deviant and dangerous.


Although the Crimes Amendment (Provocation) Act 2014 (NSW) restricted this “Homosexual Advance Defence,” its harmful legacy persists in cultural attitudes and sentencing practices. Until such narratives are fully dismantled, queer people remain at risk of violence being excused under law.


Intersectionality: Why Some Are at Greater Risk


Violence is not experienced equally within the LGBTQI+ community. Intersectionality, a concept introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw, shows us how overlapping identities create layered vulnerabilities:


  • Young LGBTQI+ people: Under 25s are 4.5 times more likely to face family violence.

  • First Nations LGBTQI+ people: Nearly 3 in 5 report experiencing family violence almost double the rate of non-Indigenous participants.

  • People with disability: LGBTQI+ people with disability are twice as likely to experience sexual violence as those without disability.


These statistics highlight why our fight against violence must also be a fight against racism, ableism, transphobia, and systemic inequality.


Regional Service Gaps and Community Isolation


While metropolitan areas often have specialist LGBTQI+ services, regional areas like the Southern Highlands face stark service gaps. ACON’s 2021 report confirms that rural communities are frequently left without access to queer-specific domestic and family violence support.


This means queer people in the Highlands often:


  • Travel long distances for help.

  • Seek support from providers lacking LGBTQI+ awareness.

  • Experience deep isolation in small communities where stigma still lingers.


This gap in services makes grassroots advocacy, visibility, and mutual support essential.


The Role of Media and Misrepresentation


For decades, violence against queer people was either ignored or sensationalised in mainstream media. The NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ Hate Crimes (2023) exposed how silence and distortion shaped public perceptions and allowed decades of hate crimes to remain unpunished.


Today, bold campaigns like Safe. Seen. Fabulous. flip the narrative. They reclaim visibility, affirm queer lives, and highlight that our stories are not just valid—they are vital to building safer communities.


Why We Exist: The Real Homosexuals of the Southern Highlands


Our organisation was founded because regional queer voices deserve to be heard. We exist to:


  • Amplify queer voices in the Highlands.

  • Challenge systemic failures in law, policing, and social services.

  • Create safe spaces where LGBTQI+ people can connect, belong, and thrive.

  • Advocate for change that ensures equality for all, regardless of sexuality, gender, race, or ability.


We are proud to represent the fabric of our community. We are your neighbours, colleagues, friends, and family. And we will not be invisible.


How You Can Help: Stand With Us


Ending violence and injustice in the LGBTQI+ community requires collective action. Together, we can:


  • Diminish stigma and misunderstanding through education and advocacy.

  • Build stronger networks of support in regional areas.

  • Ensure local queer voices shape policy and reform.

  • Celebrate diversity and resilience in the Southern Highlands.


👉 Membership matters. By joining The Real Homosexuals of the Southern Highlands, you’re not just becoming part of a group, you’re becoming part of a movement for justice, safety, and equality.


Join Us Today


Membership is open to LGBTQI+ residents and allies of the Southern Highlands. By becoming a member, you help us amplify our voice, strengthen our advocacy, and ensure that our community is safe, seen, and fabulous.



✨ Gay By Nature. Highlands By Choice. We Are Equal. ✨

 
 
 

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