BE AWARE – April 20

An offensive article appeared in the St George & Sutherland Shire Leader, a Fairfax publication, that has drawn attention to a toilet block in the area and implies beat users are a threat to children… the ‘poofters are pedophiles’ argument. Read Article and Comment

We’re disappointed that an unnamed police officer has ‘outed’ and verified the location is being monitored by police, and disgusted that councillors are making homophobic comments that may encourage vigilante behaviour and homophobic violence.

We’ve raised concerns about this article with Supt. Donna Adney, NSW Police GLBT Corporate Spokesperson, and will monitor the Kogarah area for any reports of inappropriate police activity and homophobic violence.

 

If approached by officers:

• DO NOT run – they will only chase you

• remain calm and be polite - officers may try to intimidate you

• note the date/time

• note the officer/s full name, rank and station — officers must identify themselves on approach, and their identification must be clearly displayed at all times… you’re also allowed to ask for their if they don’t tell you

• you’re allowed to ask why you’re being being questioned – officers must be polite and courteous at all times

• note anything officers do and say to you – officers cannot make any inappropriate and/or homophobic comments

• Agent Provocateur and Entrapment are against police procedure — officers are advised to undertake high-visibility policing and must patrol in pairs — report immediately if you’re approached by plain-clothed officers pretenting to be beat users

• You have every right to be in a public place at any hour of the day — officers must sight actual offensive behaviour before they can approach you

• Contact Legal Aid NSW for free and independent advice – 1300 888 529 

 

If you encounter resident vigilantes and/or bashers:

• remain calm and move to safety – notify police 000 immediately
  

• Do not respond to any taunts
  

• Help anyone who is in trouble

 

Please advise us immediately – either REPORT or send us an EMAIL… we can also assist you with legal advice and representation if required.

please take care and always look out for each other

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Illegal sex spot spruiked online

BY DAVID MCCOWEN
19 Apr, 2011 10:43 AM – Read Article and Comment

FAMILIES using a new playground in Hogben Park may not know that toilets there are being promoted as a hotbed for casual sex.

The toilet block at Kogarah is listed on a gay ‘‘cruising’’ website as a top location for casual encounters, rating it four stars out of five.

It was described by web users as a popular place for public sex, with ‘‘activity pretty much all day’’. A contributor to the website described the Hogben Park toilets as ‘‘really fun’’ and wrote that ‘‘pretty much everyone heading in the door is there for the

same reason’’.

A St George police spokesman confirmed that the block was used for public sex and was among a number of sites which were patrolled from time to time.

He said public sex carried a charge of wilful and obscene exposure, which could result in fines of up to $1100 or a maximum of six months in jail.

The council recently spent more than $130,000 on shaded play equipment in the park, and plans to replace the toilet block this year.

North Ward councillors Stephen Agius and Nick Katris said they were not aware of the block’s use for public sex.

Cr Agius said the council planned to demolish the toilets this year, and it should consider modifications to any replacements.

‘‘I think it’s something we have to review, just to see if there are any issues we can rectify to improve security down there,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s not something good to happen in playgrounds and parks.’’

Councillor Katris believed plans for the block’s replacement were simply because it was outdated and were not related to its use for public sex.

Fellow north ward Lachlan McLean said he was aware of rumours about the block being used for sex and that he hoped ‘‘a new block would deter that’’.

‘‘It’s not the sort of thing we want in a park where a lot of local kids play,’’ he said.

Parents with children playing in the park at on a sunny morning last week did not know the toilet block was a gay beat.

Signs on the block say the toilets are only unlocked between 10am and 2pm, though it has been unlocked in the late afternoon.

Cr McLean said he did not understand the attraction of sex in the public restroom.

‘‘Why anyone would want to get together there, I’ll never know,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s not the sort of thing we want in Kogarah.’’

GAY SITE’S FOUR STARS

The Cruising Gays website gave the Hogben Park toilet block a four-star rating as a rendezvous spot.

The website goes in to great detail about its location, functionality and success as a ‘‘cruising’’ destination.

“The entrance to the mens’ block is facing away from the road — so entering can be pretty discreet. There is only one small urinal and one cubicle. The cubicle itself is pretty big (enough room for three or four guys).’’

‘‘When you arrive, scan the cars parked on the street and you will see guys waiting in their cars/trucks. This probably means that the block is empty. Wait for a guy to go in and follow, or head in first and he will appear pretty quickly.’’

‘‘There is a real mix of guys here. Your usual old dudes are fairly common, but there are some real hotties hitting this spot. The light does not go on at all, so at night it is very dark inside.’’

‘‘If the toilet is busy late at night there are two spots at the bottom of the park.’’

‘‘Take care on weekends, as the park can often have families around. Sometimes, the whole park can even be packed.’’