Gay students extorted with threat of being ‘outed’ in home countries, Victorian hate crime inquiry hears
Summary
International students from countries where being gay is illegal have been targeted in Victoria, Australia. They were tricked into meetings through gay dating apps, then attacked, filmed, and threatened with having their sexuality revealed to their families unless they paid money. Police have identified many attacks, but experts say the real number is likely higher because victims are afraid to report.Key Facts
- Since June 2024, police found 95 attacks against gay and bisexual men in Victoria, with 42 arrests.
- Many victims are international students whose home countries criminalize homosexuality.
- Attackers use gay dating apps to lure victims, then assault and film them.
- Victims face threats to publicly share videos of the attacks unless they pay money.
- Victims often fear police and worry about family reactions if outed.
- The attacks mainly happen in Melbourne’s outer northern and south-eastern suburbs.
- Some attackers are as young as 13 years old.
- These attacks are considered hate crimes linked to far-right online communities called the “manosphere.”
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