On Saturday, 17th February high profile member of our community, Steven Roebuck, stepped outside to discover the words HIV+ spray painted in black across the front window and fly screen of his home. “I went outside at 7.30am to check that the sprinklers were working in my front garden and when I turned around I saw plastered across my window HIV+. It hit me like a brick and I immediately rushed inside and I grabbed a cloth to start trying to rub it off.’
Concerned about the visibility of such a slogan, Mr Roebuck removed the majority of the visible paint before to contacting the police. When he did contact police, Mr Roebuck was told he was unable to make a report at that time as the local police were too busy.
Mr Roebuck said that the officer on the phone ‘treated the incident as a normal graffiti incident.’ He told OUTinPerth ‘I explained that some graffiti can be artistic but this was not. I really don’t think she understood the nature of the personal attack of this kind of graffiti. I don’t hide the fact I am positive, I felt invaded. I didn’t feel physically threatened. I felt extremely vulnerable emotionally.’
Following suggested avenues for assistance on the WAAC answering service, Steven Roebuck then called Crisis Care. ‘I was on the phone to a lady there for about 20 minutes. I don’t think she was as qualified as a ‘GLO‘ would be. It was put forward that it was 16 year old youth with a can of beer in one hand and a spray can in the other. After receiving proper counselling from WAAC I don’t think that was the case.’
The police contacted Mr Roebuck mid morning and he was informed that the incident report would be sent to the Bayswater Police Station who would contact him if they felt it was necessary. ‘I have not been contacted at this stage’ he commented.
Mr Roebuck expressed concern to OUTinPerth that the service providers from whom he sought help following the targeting of his home were not adequately aware of GLBTIQ+ issues, further commenting that ‘whilst the crisis care was excellent, it is still different.’ In contrast Mr Roebuck spoke of his appreciation of support provided by WAAC ‘To give WAAC credit, I phoned them up at 9 am on Monday. They were in a meeting but they phoned back within 10 minutes and made themselves available to me.’
Steven Roebuck described the fear incited by such an attack saying ‘I felt Like a Jew In Nazi Germany.’ He has subsequently requested that Homeswest install security lighting on the exterior of his home. Homeswest have declined, however WAAC have offered to do so.
