I am relieved by how progressive Australia has been in gay rights and how cases from years ago aren't being ignored simply because they're old. The police have recognized the anguish and sorrow Steve Johnson and his family went through, and confirmed the equally saddening cause of his brothers death. The light in this situation, though, is how Australia has visible changed their views on homosexuality. In the past, police looked at a case like this and blew it off simply because of Mr. Johnson being gay. It's nice to see real world examples of how we're becoming more accepting of a persons love sexuality. Recently, it seems our small one-step-at-a-time approach towards our view of gay relationships has gained a faster pace and larger steps. With America legalizing gay marriage in 2015, to Australia's vote to legalize it. Yes, there are still many countries no where close to accepting homosexuality, but it's good to see progress in others.
6
I'm glad the NYT is highlighting a story on the recent history of the realities of being gay even in liberal societies. Perhaps the Times could have also highlighted the groundbreaking story on Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau publicly apologizing for the Canadian government's treatment of gay and lesbian people, including some $110 million in restitution. Rather then relegate this hugely significant story to the back pages, the Times should have had this on the front page. But then again as a gay man of 63 years I know from experience LGBT issues and lives are still either neglected or deemed unimportant. Much like the underpinnings in this story of why so many gay men were murdered and ignored for decades because the establishment, the police thought their lives were thought of as not important.
3
A despicable murder made all the more poignant by Scott's loving brother who never gave up searching for the truth. Wishing him some measure of peace. And to the bigoteers responsible for these murders: may you spend the rest of your lives looking nervously over your shoulders, may your families discover who you really are and may the law catch you at some point.
29
I'm not doubting their findings, but I wonder how a coroner is able to determine a hate crime vs. suicide in these cases? I could see circumstantial evidence or direct testimony pointing in that direction, but what is the science behind the determination?
6
Obviously the evidence was compelling for the coroner to return this verdict. The article also makes reference to 'an exhaustive investigation over the past four years' by police- so why doubt the finding, which is in fact what you are doing? It is a terrible indictment on Australia and Sydney that entrenched homophobia in the community resulted in the deaths- murder- of gay men and that these crimes went unpunished. There is almost a pattern of collusion on the part of police. As the January article points out, "....the police, many of whom had a reputation for hostility toward gay men, often carried out perfunctory investigations that overlooked the possibility of homicide, former officials and police officers say". There will be people out there in the suburbs of Sydney and elsewhere who know who was responsible. I hope the guilt is eating away at some of them. Hopefully one day there will be real justice for the families and loved ones of those who died.
4
This is related to the current sexual harassment news in that it is once again a story of male bullying of those who are outnumbered, less powerful, and of course, different.
5
The account of Mr Johnson's murder at the hands of predatory thugs has nauseated and haunted me since I read The Times coverage at the beginning of this year. As a gay man of a certain age, reading this story and recalling friends and acquaintances who were attacked or killed because of their sexual orientation, all I can say is "There but for the grace of God..." While delayed justice will not bring back Scott, I do hope it will give a modicum of peace and consolation to his surviving loved ones -- and assurances to gay communities that civilized societies are finally becoming serious and sincere about the well-being of all its members.
30
It’s like the sun finally coming up, revealing the gruesome battlefield where gay people have fought for centuries for the simple right to exist.
14
Losing a brother is so painful, and that photo of Steve Johnson is moving. Thank you Steve for pursuing this. Now, it's over to the police: can they catch some of these men's killers? What you need are a few good, dogged detectives.
9
Trying not to post these days, mostly to disengage plus protect any worn threads of privacy - but I just want Mr. Johnson to know that people are reading this and understand his enormous loss. Such enduring commitment to his brother is poignant. Imagine thinking about a sibling going through such a death, going through life knowing a loved one was touched by pure cruelty. I hope the cowards see their day before the law, and before Mr. Johnson.
16
This s proof that in fact the truth is always out there no matter who tries to cover it up, are you listening Trump. My condolences to the Johnsons, this is a nightmare of a story.
4
I would like to understand the science of how anyone can draw any conclusion about a death 30 years earlier. Not asking about anything else but the science.
3
IT is the cumulative pattern of so many deaths that were unexplained from that time and in that place, combined with the understanding of the family that a suicide was highly unlikely.
That is how serial killers leave a trail, even though the killing in that case is gruesome. This was just as gruesome....but less one to one. It was a mob to one, serially. And that is what is so truly truly terrible.
2
Right... let's ask the police that have decades and decades of experience of looking at murder scenes and determining certain 'standard' MO's of each... i.e. pure untrained guess': suicidals want QUICK if contined pain is involved.
A sharp knife in the groin maybe a samurai's choice but not someone wanting less pain! Drug overdose for suicides but formula for painless and effective needs to be followed; no one wants to wakeup a vegetable!
It's interesting that the article does not use the word "murder" to describe the criminal act that resulted in Mr. Johnson's death; only "hate crime." Is the homophobic aspect of it more repellent than the simple fact of homicide?
2
"Deep Water," a gripping Netflix series from Australia that was inspired by a host of unsolved hate crimes against gay men there. It reveals precisely this terrible story and exposes the darkest side of humankind.
9
I remember this from 30 years ago, when my little brother died. Before I read the details in the story… I think I’ll have to wait a while for it to become more palatable.
2
To paraphrase Hillary, what difference does it make now?
I am so gratified to see that this death is not going to be swept away, and that someone pursued these terrible crimes to reveal the truth.
I really do not understand why someone's sexual orientation should be of concern to anyone else. To kill someone over it...is simply murder, hate, and a complete abomination to society and humanity. We must do something about our ridiculous prejudices that are so ugly and destructive.
Whoever did this to Scott...and the others who were killed...I hope you come to accountability. I really do. To the police in New South Wales, do your job well, please.
17
Heinous. Hard to believe such evil existed anywhere in the world. To have lost such a lovely and gifted person makes it even harder to accept. I hope his killers are found and meet justice, however severely delayed.
4
I am an expat Australian, now American citizen. After Trump's election some imagined moving to Canada. I would like to think Australia was a safe haven but I fear that the basket of deplorables Hillary described resides there also and, Trudeau notwithstanding, in Canada also.
21
Everywhere, of course, sad to say. One hopes that the majority look out for the vulnerable. It's nice when a country's leadership understands that looking out for the vulnerable is a virtue.
3
As the parent of a gay child, these kinds of stories terrify me. I can only hope and pray that today’s climate is better
56
I think it's better, but clearly not good enough. Just look at the warnings for gay people that are travelling to Russia for the World Cup next summer.
4
Now one can only hope that law enforcement aggressively identifies and procescutes those sub-humans responsible for this. Such behavior is beyond criminal.
26
Hopefully someone who was a witness will have the courage to come forward.
3
A few months ago, my wife and I watched Deep Water, the four-part miniseries about these murders of gay men. If the attitude of the police that is portrayed in the series is anything like reality, their behavior is a scandal and an outrage. I hope justice will be done, a justice that in my mind would include exemplary punishment of any police officers who willfully failed to do their duty.
63
"include exemplary punishment of any police officers who willfully failed to do their duty."
Not a chance. Australian State police forces (there are no local police), Federal police agencies and the judiciary at all levels (the coroner's courts may be an exception) are so mutually protective and culturally bound together that there will be no consequences. There will be an official inquiry, which will take time to report, then the report will be examined at length, with discretion, of course. The years will pass. No one will be found responsible, although the NSW police had a good idea of the identities of the perpetrators at the time. There may be nudge toward a cultural change, but don't expect any justice here.
3
I was going to mention Deep Water. It's available on Netflix. Very, very well done and well worth watching for anyone wanting more context on this story.
2
When it comes to self-protection, nobody does it like the police, whether they be in Los Angeles, Chicago or Sydney. So you may be right. I hope you're not.
Such a horrible story.
12
I grew up around people who when they heard of the National Guard Reserve Barracks going to the nearby rest area on Route 80 in Lodi NJ, and the Reservists cracking closeted men's heads open basically said it was good. That 'these perverts had it coming to them'. Of course the police would join in or look the other way.
I was a gay teen growing up hearing this in my household and neighborhood.
Very similar to the Australian cliffs.
4
I'm sorry, but behavior like this did not and does not beget in a vacuum. It is another egregious example of a society, supposedly living under pious religious values, that fails its people because the churches purposefully omit to condemn hatred in all forms. Mark Twain wrote about it growing up in Reconstruction America in his 100-year-old biography. The Dutch Reform Church of South Africa not only condoned apartheid, it encouraged it. The Roman Catholic Church allied itself with fascist Germany and Italy and Spain during the 1930s. And yes, the evangelical ministries of today are turning a blind eye and encouraging the disgraceful behavior toward muslims and people of no faith. I've seen it; I've heard it; we all know what's happening in our churches and in our hearts. I'm sorry, but, these behaviors trickle down from the top.
If every pastor demanded true love of one another with the caveat that the doors to heaven would be locked without it, that actions do matter and not just faith for salvation; then these hateful thoughts of killing anyone because of his or her orientation would never enter a household to begin with.
67
Agreed. One truly wishes for the opportunity to ask those who claim to be people of faith but espouse hate at the same time that hypothetical question that they so like to ask of others:
What would Jesus do?
2
These murders were dramatized in a 2016 Australian TV series, Deep Water, that is currently available on streaming services including Acrorn and Amazon Prime.
27
Deep Water is on Netflix. Amazon Prime refers viewers to Acorn TV.
This is a very sad story. I wonder, will Trump be tweeting about this and seeking to ban Australians from entering the U.S. Will all those who feign care and concern for the way women and gays are treated in the "Muslim world" demand a reckoning. If not, why not?
14
This is really sad and disturbing.
9
My sincere condolences for the Johnson family's agonizing pain and loss. For whatever it is worth, after someone's life is lost, hope Scott Johnson finally gets a professional investigation and some kind of justice.
33
How sad and awful. What is wrong with the men who feel compelled to bully and murder like this? I hope they cannot sleep for the rest of their lives.
Touched that Scott Johnson had such a loving brother who did not abandon the search for truth.
104
There is an excellent series on Acorn TV I believe that we watched this year. It is a crime drama that covers these terrible events in Sydney. A four part series called Deep Water. It's Amazing to see crimes associated with these events still being solved and prosecuted.
It really should have been no mystery regarding what happened to this young man since there were as many as 80 questionable deaths during that time period in the 1980s. Sad.
15
Thanks, Boeingflyer, I'll look for it.
See also https://www.sbs.com.au/programs/deep-water
SBS is public broadcasting. There was a series of murders in Adelaide as well as Sydney.
2