Thorne Harbour Health calls on community to have their voices heard following ongoing anti-LGBTIQA+ attacks
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26 Feb 2026
Thorne Harbour Health is encouraging LGBTIQA+ community members who have experienced harassment, intimidation or violence to come forward and confidentially share their experiences as part of the upcoming Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into hate crimes.
The organisation will support people who wish to contribute to the inquiry and is collecting voluntary accounts from community members to be included in submissions to Parliament.
These are not isolated incidents. For nearly two years we have been aware of attacks where online targeting escalates into real-world violence, affecting our communities’ sense of safety in everyday life.
Thorne Harbour Health CEO Chad Hughes
The call follows recent reporting of assaults involving gay and bisexual teenagers in Sydney and similar incidents affecting communities across Australia over the past 18 months.
Since 2024, Thorne Harbour Health has provided safety guidance and supported community members after incidents in which offenders used dating apps and social media to arrange meetings that resulted in assault, intimidation and robbery.
The organisation said the inquiry provides an important opportunity for victim-survivors and community members to be heard and to improve responses to both historical and contemporary forms of anti-LGBTIQA+ violence.
We know this violence is underreported. Many people are unable to come forward due to fear of being outed, or because offenders are using recorded footage to threaten or blackmail them. An inquiry gives government the opportunity to uncover the scale of these attacks and identify practical steps to prevent harm and support those affected.
These incidents — motivated by a broad range of radical ideologies — can have significant mental health impacts. We can support people to access counselling, peer support and, if they choose, assistance to report safely.
Chad Hughes
Community members can express interest in confidentially sharing their experiences by contacting reporting@thorneharbour.org.
Further information and support resources are available at thorneharbour.org.
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