Australia’s leading gay and lesbian newspaper
Bears tackle body image
page 27
Gay abuse
victim
seeks justice
A gay man who was convicted of sodomy as
a child after being molested by a pedophile is
one step closer to justice, with his request for
a pardon...
More
Australia’s leading gay and lesbian newspaper
Bears tackle body image
page 27
Gay abuse
victim
seeks justice
A gay man who was convicted of sodomy as
a child after being molested by a pedophile is
one step closer to justice, with his request for
a pardon now in the hands of the Victorian
Attorney-General.
In 1977 Tom Anderson, then a 14-year-old
paperboy, was groomed and taken advantage
of sexually over a period of months by his boss
— who plied him with alcohol, cigarettes and
pornographic magazines.
But when Anderson reported the man to
police, they charged him as well and he was
convicted of two counts of sodomy by the
Victorian Children’s Court.
Anderson’s abuser pleaded guilty and was
jailed, while Anderson accepted a 12-month
good behaviour bond on the condition he
apologised to the court.
In 1981 Victoria decriminalised
homosexuality, but Anderson has had
to live with the experience and began
campaigning for a formal pardon last year.
Anderson wrote to Premier Ted Baillieu
Less