Lifting the lid on a culture of hate

On October 7, 1998 a cyclist in the US mountain state of Wyoming came across what he thought was a scarecrow, in a field outside the town of Laramie.

The ‘scarecrow’ was Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old university student who had been lured away from a club by two homophobes. They bashed him unconscious, tied him to a fence and left him to die – which he did, five days later in hospital.

Matthew Shepard’s death sparked something off; the murder of the sweet, sensitive, college student drew the interest of media worldwide and became a cultural touchstone, referenced in books, plays, movies and songs.

But his tragic demise at the hands of gay bashers is hardly unique.

In fact, it has parallels in a case half a world away, and a decade earlier, a leading US journalist and investigator believes.

There is strong evidence to suggest that the death of Scott Johnson – a 27-year-old PhD student from the US, whose body was found at the foot of a Sydney cliff in 1988 – was a gay hate murder, says Daniel Glick.

“There were definitely gangs operating in that area [Manly’s North Head] who would seek out gay men to beat them up,” says Mr Glick from his home in Colorado.

“I’ve been investigating this case at the behest of Scott’s family … and visiting Sydney since 2007. I’ve interviewed and received information from dozens and dozens of people, and we feel the most likely scenario is that Scott was thrown from that cliff.”

That scenario differs significantly from the one proffered by the NSW Police Force in 1988, which found Scott had committed suicide.

But in 2013, police have a more open mind.

On February 11, the day ABC-TV’s Australian Story explored the circumstances of Scott’s death, Detective Acting Superintendent Chris Olen said: “At this stage, it is not known whether Scott’s death is a result of suicide, misadventure or murder.

“What we need is fresh information to help us solve this case and bring some closure to the Johnson family.”

Police offered a $100,000 reward to encourage people to come forward. This week, they will meet with Scott’s brother Steve Johnson and other family members for the first time.

Mr Glick says “the time seems to be right” to bring closure not only to Scott Johnson’s family but to a late 20th Century epidemic of gay hate crimes in Sydney.

“In the ’80s and ’90s, bashing gays for sport was culturally ingrained in Sydney,” he says.

“[Former NSW Coroner] Jacqui Milledge found that several men were probably murdered by being thrown off cliffs at Bondi, and there were countless assaults perpetrated against gay men during those decades, not only at beats but outside clubs, in Oxford St, and all over Sydney. And not just gay men but lesbians too.”

Mr Glick hopes that just as the Matthew Shepard case led to vital hate crime legislation in the US, something good might come of Scott Johnson’s death.

“The publicity has led to an opening up. The girlfriends, the mates, and relatives of men who used to boast about going out to bash gay men are contacting me.

“I – and Scott’s family – hope Scott’s legacy will be that the lid is lifted off this period, so the wider community can deal with what was happening in Sydney, and bring closure and justice.”

That lid certainly seems to be lifting, with more and more voices joining the chorus for justice.

Gay activist Gary Burns is calling for “a judicial inquiry with the powers of a royal commission” into deaths at gay beats in the ’80s and ’90s; a call backed by Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) spokesperson Rachel Evans.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore – who frequently raised the issue of violence against gays and lesbians in NSW Parliament as former Member for Sydney – says: “In the late ’80s and early ’90s, getting NSW Police action on these matters was difficult. However, great changes have been made since then and it’s encouraging to know that police have re-opened their investigation into Scott Johnson’s death.”

Ms Moore will march with Mr Glick, Scott’s family and Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich in the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade this Saturday night, to raise further awareness of the case.

“I am honoured that Scott’s family will be marching with Clover and I at this weekend’s Mardi Gras,” says Mr Greenwich, who sums things up thus: “We need to re-visit and seek justice for those who were victims of homophobic violence during this time.”

For further details, join the Facebook group ‘Justice for Scott Johnson’. Anyone with information is encouraged to email justiceforscottjohnson@gmail.com and/or contact NSW Police.