An assault on a gay Aucklander on Karangahape Rd has provoked further concern about a perceived rise in violence at the country's gay nightlife centrepoint, with one regular bar patron describing the atmosphere as "fucking scary". The strip often known as "gay road" hosts the greatest number of GLBT venues in the country, but it is also increasingly the scene of brutal late-night brawls and daylight scraps. While witnesses spoken to by GayNZ.com Daily News say the majority of the fights have been between straight, drunk men who seem to be come into town looking for trouble, a number of gay men have also been victims of random assaults. Longtime poster designer for K' Rd bear bar Urge Simon Stockley is the latest to have been attacked. He is now recovering from knee reconstruction surgery after being pushed out onto the road in front of Scorpio Club early on Sunday morning. The designer is not really sure what happened, as the attack occurred very quickly and he simply recalls waking up surrounded by people. It's unclear whether Stockley's sexuality was a motivating factor. Urge co-owner Paul Heard says Stockley is expected to be on crutches for at least ten weeks. He says while Stockley is playing the attack down a little, he is very shaken. "Personally I will be taking this up with the K' Rd Business Association and our local politicians when Simon is a little better," Heard says. "This violence and loutish behaviour on K' Rd has to be addressed." Other members of the community have also been assaulted in recent months, including Gay Auckland Business Association President Glenn Sims who was randomly punched in the face as he walked home after collecting for Help Out In October. Sims was already recovering from a broken arm at the time of the attack. The person responsible has been jailed for six months. There are countless other recent stories of GLBT people being assaulted and abused on K' Rd, ranging from a member of staff at gay bar Kamo who was headbutted by a drunken man who he refused service, to a gay man in his mid-30s who was spat upon and called a "fucking faggot" as he walked down K' Rd after a night out. Concern has been pouring in to GayNZ.com about the anecdotal evidence that the street is becoming more dangerous and people spoken to on K' Rd on Friday night agreed. "I wouldn't walk down K' Rd by myself at night at the moment," said one young lesbian who was starting her night. "It's just not safe anymore. I used to feel pretty safe, but now I won't even walk from Family to the dairy for smokes without some friends with me." A gay man in his 20s who lives locally adds: "Have you seen K' Rd in the mornings? You can't walk up the street on the weekend without seeing blood and vomit on the footpath. It's gross - and it's fucking scary." Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye is worried that some people are not feeling safe on K' Rd. "Over the next week I intend to talk to the Auckland Central police, the K' Rd Business Association and other key people within the community to see what I can do," she says. "K' Rd is such an important place for so many people in the GLBT community and I want to do everything I can to ensure people feel safe and secure in the heart of the city." Kaye has asked for anyone who wishes to raise specific concerns with her to email her at: mp.aucklandcentral@parliament.govt.nz GayNZ.com Daily News has approached police for comment on both progress on the Simon Stockley assault investigation and how the level of violence on K' Rd is being handled. We hope to have a response for readers soon. A response from the K' Rd Business Association will follow shortly. Urge is planning to next weekend run a collection for both Simon Stockley, and the lesbian couple whose business was burnt down in an apparent hate crime in Mangawhai Heads last weekend.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 22nd January 2011 - 7:30pm