A 2008 study of 390 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Victorians found that nearly
one in seven reported living in fear of homophobic violence. This fear was justified in that nearly 85
per cent of respondents had been subjected to some form of homophobic violence or harassment
in their lifetimes and one in two had experienced homophobic harassment or other non-physical
abuse in the past two years.
In eighty-five per cent of cases, violence and harassment were preceded or accompanied by
homophobic language. Sexual assault was also common, with nearly 5 per cent having been
subjected to this form of violence over the last two years.
Among same sex attracted young people, violence and discrimination were also common. A 2010
study of 3134 young Australians found that 61 per cent had suffered verbal abuse because of their
sexuality, 18 per cent suffered physical assault and 69 per cent suffered other forms of
homophobia such as exclusion rumours and graffiti.
