 Book Reviews
with Robin Osborne
I Am What I Am
By John Marsden
Viking $35.00
 Born and circumcised in Lismore, John Marsden (not the popular novelist) is the self-described 'pot-smoking poofter' who achieved both fame and notoriety for his gay rights activism and record as a high profile solicitor in Sydney's west.
Amongst his achievements were chairing the NSW Police Board, strongly opposed by many officers because of his sexuality, the successful defence of Ivan Milat, later to be convicted of serial killings but then up on rape charges, and a draining but ultimately triumphant defamation action against Channel Seven over paedophilia claims.
Part of the evidence that helped him win this case was the statement of a young witness, whom Marsden had allegedly picked up at a 'beat' in Sydney: 'He told the court that he had absolutely no doubt that I was uncircumcised... Seven's legal team tried to say that the circumcision issue was peripheral, but it clearly was not.'
An aspiring priest-turned lawyer, Marsden remains a staunch Catholic but admits he has not confessed for many years: 'Although I have very little recollection of my time in Lismore, I do have a desire every time I return to visit the cathedral where I was christened.”
One of six children, two of whom are lesbian, the young Marsden moved to Campbelltown and began a long Catholic school education, culminating in an Armidale seminary in 1959 at the age of 17.
He had already had some homosexual experiences and suspected that he was gay, but guilt made him suppress his feelings.
'There was no masturbation, no fiddling with other boys and very few thoughts about sex,' he recalls.
The memoir is a cheeky, rather than voyeuristic, account of the promiscuous (his word) lawyer's relationships, sexual, social and professional. It details the struggle for gay law reform and his record with both the Police Board and NSW Law Society, as well as gossiping about politicians and prominent others.
The best yarn comes from the trial of four men charged with rape, when Marsden asked a victim: "If this man forced his penis into your mouth, why didn't you bite his penis, why didn't you bite it hard?”
Responded an opposing lawyer, "Mr Marsden, you wouldn't know what it is like; you have never had a penis in your mouth.” It was difficult for those at the Bar table to keep a straight face.'
Little about this book is straight, but there's no doubting the author's passion for justice and having a damned good time.
- Thanks to Book Warehouse, Keen Street, Lismore for supporting this column.
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