Police in Victoria have condemned a bomb threat made against an LGBTI radio station saying they will not tolerate attempts to harm or incite hatred based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The community radio station Joy 94.9FM evacuated its Bourke Street premises on Tuesday after a bomb threat was emailed to the studio.
Victoria police said it was called to the station just before 8.30pm and checked the building to declare it safe before about 30 volunteers, who had been shepherded out to the street, were allowed back in.
A number of those volunteers were new to the station and had been completing an induction course.
The station’s chief executive, Tennille Moisel, said it wasn’t the welcome she would have wanted for new volunteers but added that the incident “amplifies or exemplifies the reason that Joy exists.”
Moisel and Jed Gilbert, the station’s president, told one of the station’s regular presenters, Dean Beck, in an interview that aired on Wednesday night that the bomb threat was an example of how toxic the debate about LGBTI rights had become in Australia.
They said the station had deliberately remained “neutral” on marriage equality but that a threat of this kind “highlights how divisive the public conversation has become”.
“It really does seem that it’s allowing people some authorisation or letting people think it’s OK to do some of this stuff,” Gilbert said. “So whether it’s specifically linked [to marriage equality] who knows – but we know it’s very unusual situation for Joy to get this kind of threat.
“We’re generally loved by the community so to get this kind of threat and have to deal with this kind of situation was deeply disturbing.”
Moisel said police had been “absolutely amazing” and returned to the station on Wednesday to offer safety training for volunteers.
Victoria police said LGBTI people could contact LGBTI liaison officers for help in reporting hate crimes.
“Every Victorian has the right to feel safe and secure in the community and Victoria police will not tolerate any threats or attempts to incite hatred or violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” police said on Thursday.
“We ask anyone who witnesses, or is subject to, discrimination or victimisation on the basis of sexuality or gender identity to inform police immediately.”
LGBTI groups have repeatedly warned that the publicly funded debate surrounding the marriage equality plebiscite would be harmful to people who identify as LGBTI or come from LGBTI families.
Anti-marriage equality groups say they have also been targeted for their views.
On Friday, the Mercure Sydney International Hotel announced the Australian Christian Lobby had cancelled a booking to hold a “no” campaign planning meeting on Tuesday, citing “safety and security concerns for guests and staff”.
The ACL have advised their event will no longer be held at Mercure Sydney Airport due to safety and security concerns for guests and staff.
— Mercure Sydney (@Mercuresydney) September 16, 2016
It followed a social media campaign by the LGBTI activist Pauline Pantsdown, who applauded the cancellation as “re-establishing the Mercure Hotel as a safe zone” for LGBTI families and hotel staff.
The ACL president, Lyle Shelton, suggested Mercure staff had faced “violent intimidation”, saying “if this is what happens to Australians who support marriage now, what will it be like if the law ever did change?”
He later condemned the threat against Joy 94.9FM.
Yes, of course I condemn this sort of thing. https://t.co/CVQQTSnUky
— Lyle Shelton (@LyleShelton) September 21, 2016
Legislation to enable the plebiscite will be put to a vote when parliament resumes in two weeks.
