Melbourne’s Laird Hotel Hit By Coordinated Hate Attack
Melbourne’s queer community faced a grim reality on Sunday morning after one of its most enduring safe spaces, The Laird, was targeted in a calculated act of homophobic vandalism. The attack is believed to be part of a coordinated effort, with similar incidents reported at another gay venue and the Jewish Holocaust Centre.
An ugly message on a Sunday morning.
Staff at the Abbotsford institution were alerted by neighbours on July 6 to vile slurs spray-painted across the property. The messages included the word “fag” on the venue’s doors and a disturbing image of Ned Kelly captioned “Ned hates fags” along Henry Street.
In a move that speaks volumes, staff quickly covered the offensive graffiti with rainbow pride flags, shielding patrons and the community from the hateful words. “We are very grateful to our neighbours for letting us know about the vandalism so quickly,” a staff member told reporters.
Co-owner Brett Lasham acknowledged the heavy impact of such an incident. “Some people may be hardened to things like this,” he said. “But it can still be triggering when it’s our safe space.”
This wasn’t a random act…
The attack on The Laird was not an isolated event. Fellow Abbotsford venue Eagle Leather was also tagged with “God hates fags,” and the same Ned Kelly image was found at the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Elsternwick. This pattern suggests a planned campaign by organised hate groups.
The incident is a stark reminder of the very issues The Laird has been working to combat. The venue recently hosted a community forum to address the alarming increase in homophobic violence, particularly threats made through dating apps.
Victoria Police are now investigating the linked incidents, and their LGBTQIA+ Liaison Officers have visited The Laird to support staff and collect evidence from security cameras, which captured the perpetrators.
Joe Ball, the Victorian Commissioner for LGBTQIA+ Communities, condemned the attacks, placing them in a broader context of rising hostility. “This is a tough time for our community,” Ball stated. “We are seeing a wave of attacks, not just online, but in our streets, on public transport, in homes and in schools.”
He drew a direct line from recent anti-drag protests to this kind of targeted violence. “The backlash against drag storytime was a warning. It’s all connected, violence, abuse, hate speech. We must stand up for each other.”
Despite being targeted a second time on Sunday evening with non-homophobic graffiti, The Laird remained open, refusing to be silenced. Its resilience sends a clear signal.
As Commissioner Ball put it, “We will not be intimidated. We will defend our spaces and each other, together.”
Did Ned Kelly Really Hate Fags?
While there is no direct evidence to indicate how Australia’s most infamous bushranger felt about the gays, many have speculated that his younger brother, Ned, was gay and in a romantic relationship with fellow Kelly gang member, Steve Hart. In the 2020 film True History Of The Kelly Gang (based on Peter Carey’s novel), Dan Kelly and Steve Hart are depicted as being in a romantic relationship.
The film adaptation, directed by Justin Kurzel, portrayed the gang with queer undertones and challenged traditional notions of Australian masculinity.
