THERE S a meeting tonight for the gay and lesbian community to challenge homophobia and violence in east London. The gathering starts at 7.30pm in the Joiners Arms in Hackney Road in Shoreditch and Tower Hamlets councillors and police will be there alongs

THERE'S a meeting tonight for the gay and lesbian community to challenge homophobia and violence in east London.

The gathering starts at 7.30pm in the Joiners Arms in Hackney Road in Shoreditch and Tower Hamlets councillors and police will be there alongside members of Artists Against Knives and lesbian and gay campaigners Stonewall who will share information about their own campaigns to help keep people safe.

The East London Homophobia group urged people to tell police about any attacks and said: "The authorities, the police and the council, need to be told by us what is happening. This meeting will help in that, and show that we take these things, and ourselves, seriously."

Reports of incidents are being passed on by the George and Dragon and Joiners Arms pubs in Shoreditch.

The meeting follows a similar gathering earlier this summer and last year's street attack which left a young man paralysed.