Scott Johnston

This summary chronicles Scott Johnston's journey from a conventional lifestyle through a pivotal change leading to their significant involvement in Auckland’s LGBTQ+ community, particularly with the creation and development of the Hero parade. Scott began their career in property management and consultancy but underwent a personal transformation after ending a marriage and passionately pursuing a relationship with Michael Palmer, a dance company manager. This marked Scott's deep dive into a life reflecting their authentic self, integrating an arts and event management lifestyle which eventually led to Scott's instrumental role in the Hero festival.

The interview reveals Scott's experiences of coming out in 1980s Auckland, a time when being openly gay was challenging and required a strong sense of community to navigate the social landscape. During this period, an emerging HIV/AIDS crisis generated further complexity within the community. This added gravity to the creation of the Hero parade, which began as a statement against the menacing "Grim Reaper" campaigns that painted a grim picture of gay life in light of the HIV epidemic.

Scott describes the organization of the parade with a genuine grassroots approach, relying heavily on community involvement and volunteers. There was a strong emphasis on making it a celebratory and inclusive event, despite tight budgets and minimal sponsorship. The parade started on Queen Street, a decision that was both political and symbolic, but later moved to Ponsonby with the intent of offering a longer route and capturing potential sponsorship opportunities.

Media coverage played a significant role in amplifying the parade's message and reach, with live TV broadcasts helping to normalize gay culture in mainstream society. Not only did these broadcasts challenge prevailing conservative views, but they also provided inspiration and hope to LGBTQ+ individuals in the process of self-discovery.

However, the continuous growth of the parade brought its challenges, such as ensuring the safety of increasingly large crowds and managing financial strains due to the costs of better infrastructure and diminishing party revenues. Scott reflects on this growth phase with a mix of pride in community achievements and awareness of the management difficulties encountered.

In contrast to Hero's heyday in the 1990s, Hero faced financial troubles and a damaged brand in the early 2000s. Scott suggests that it may have been wise to retire the brand rather than attempting to revive it with restrictive conditions imposed by funders. Moreover, Scott moves on to the recent Pride festival in Auckland, expressing concerns that a family-friendly, daytime parade could potentially dilute the authentic expression of the LGBTQ+ community.

Reflecting on their time with Hero, Scott displays a sense of pride in the positive impact and the joy shared through the events managed. This venture was not just a series of events but a profound journey of community building and advocacy that reshaped the visibility and celebration of gay culture in Auckland, promoting inclusivity and serving as a vital platform for the expression of HIV prevention messages and LGBTQ+ identity.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Scott Johnston

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