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The question is, would honourable members please resume their seats? The question is that the homosexual law reform bill be now read a third time. The eyes are 49. The nose are 44. It will be registered. [00:00:30] That was a recording of the final vote on the third reading of the Gay Law Reform Bill, and yesterday at noon the governor general signed the bill and it passed into law. And this programme of GAC is for all those who fought for law reform in New Zealand. We'll have more highlights from Parliament's historic Wednesday night session soon. But first of all hit our hit our hit our people. [00:01:00] The argument has been going on so long that inevitably parliament now must address the final crunch. The fact that there has been no willingness to compromise is as much on the heads and the responsibility of those who are opposed to the bill as those who are for the bill in its present form, each could have worked with [00:01:30] those in the middle ground to find a compromise which would have produced a change in the law, would have produced reform, but an age a little higher than that proposed in the bill. Now, sir, those like myself, who I believe do represent the middle ground are prevented, are presented with really three options to vote against the bill to abstain or to vote for the bill Unamended. [00:02:00] I cannot vote against it, sir, because this change, a change is long overdue and that I have sought to make clear I considered for some time that perhaps the course was to abstain and I agonised over this point. And I must say that there are some aspects of abstention that are appealing. But in the final analysis, a vote for abstention, I reasoned, [00:02:30] was passing the responsibility over to others and that I'm not prepared to do so. I was presented with what I feel is a difficult choice between two two propositions, neither of which I like, but one of which I like less than the other. So, sir, I will when the vote is taken, vote for the bill. But I grant you with considerable reluctance If the vote tonight is finally [00:03:00] balanced either for or against, it is certain that the arguments will come back again. It will haunt this chamber until New Zealand Society finds a way of living with change. Mr. Speaker, the last plea I make is that however, members may vote tonight, those beyond this chamber and outside will not judge the individual members too harshly. Because even those who oppose [00:03:30] me and oppose my position, I believe, are voting with their conscience. And they are voting for what they believe to be right. Yes, uh, Mr some shallow handbag and weak rhetoric from the member for North [00:04:00] Shore and historical dissertation of negligible substance of negligible substances. The member, halfway through his speech that was a abstain speech until 70% of it was delivered. Said the sponsors of this bill [00:04:30] are asking for too much. And I'll say to the member, as I said to him privately, I'm terribly, terribly disappointed in the member for North Shore. He is a colleague of mine, And, sir, I hope after this is gone, he will continue to be a friend of mine. But I'm [00:05:00] sir, prepared to stand up and be counted and say that if the member for North Shore voted with the rest of his colleagues just one week ago, we would not be debating this bill tonight. This day will be remembered as a sad and sickening day for New Zealand. A sad and sickening day for New Zealand A very black cloud [00:05:30] hangs over this parliament tonight, and those members that wheel themselves through the doors of the eyes lobby voting for legalised sodomy at the age of 16 should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. If Mr Jones, this bill could have been defeated last Wednesday by 46 votes to 44 two Wednesdays previously could [00:06:00] have been divided by four votes tonight. And I know the numbers as well as the member, the member for uh Wellington Settle knows that this bill will will be passed through by 48 votes to 45 and I've done the counting by 48 votes to 45 or 47 votes to 46 just depending on who hasn't made up their mind. There's no compromise on sodomy. It's either right or it's wrong. And it's wrong as hell. And everybody knows that. And as the member for the North Shore, of course, [00:06:30] give the member for North Shore eight alternatives, and he'll look for 1/9 and he'll look for 1/9. It's typical Annette King, the speaker. I move that the question be now, put the question now. Is that the homosexual law reform bill? Be now, read a third time. Those who are of that opinion will say I of the country opinion will say no. The [00:07:00] the I seven division called for Ring the bell. The question is, would honourable members please resume their seats? The question is that the homosexual law reform bill be now read a third time. The eyes are 49. The nose are 44. It will be registered. [00:07:30] The House will not tolerate this interference. I want that panda removed from the gallery. [00:08:00] Any further disturbance from the galleries and I will have them clear. Homosexual Law Reform Bill Third reading. Well, those are a few of the highlights of, um, Wednesday night in Parliament as Fran Wild's gay law reform bill passed its third reading. And, um, I think the speaker was talking about a certain fundamentalist Christian who stood up and foamed at the mouth [00:08:30] in the public gallery just when the law reform bill was passed. Um, John Banks was right. Of course, there is no generic connection at all. Um, for homosexuality, and um, before that we had a song, um from Bronski Beat. That was off the new album called Truth Double Dare and the song was called Hit That Perfect Beat Boy. All right, we've got some news now. This is read by Ian Creation Scientists. The people who believe that the world was made in six [00:09:00] days can now join the newly Reformed Creation Science Association. Renton McLaughlin of the Open Brethren Research Fellowship has formed this new group to recognise the relevance of creation to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is spoken into a society that seems to be increasingly humanistic. Humanistic. A conference for lesbian and gays in education is to be held in Wellington in August. The conference has been organised by a group of gay and lesbian students [00:09:30] and teachers. For further information, contact Lesbian and Gays in education. PO. Box 3264 Wellington or Phone Tiggy 05828691 or Andy 04, 848932 Things seem to be looking up for gay nightlife in Wellington and Christchurch in Christchurch Angles nightclub, [00:10:00] which has been closed due to fire damage, was reopened on Queen's birthday weekend to a 350 strong crowd. Meanwhile, in Wellington, Brett Shepherd of the Out empire, who owns Alfie in Auckland, among other gay venues, is planning to open a nightclub in Wellington soon, as yet, they have not found a suitable location as far as we know. Also, the electric ballroom in Victoria Street, opposite McDonald's, [00:10:30] will continue to run discos for lesbians and gay men. The next dance is planned for Saturday, the 26th of July and Saturday, the second of August. The dancers at Victoria University continue to pull large crowds, and last weekend's dance was a colourful and friendly affair. Funds raised from these dances, which are run by the lesbian and gay student group, are being channelled back into lesbian and gay community groups. [00:11:00] The Lesbian and Gay Rights Resource Centre, the Aid Support Network, Gay Community Centre, gay and lesbian switchboards and the Women's Place Bookshop have all benefited from considerable donations as a result of recent dance fundraising. So support your community and have fun while you're about it. Wellington's team for the Gay Games two in San Francisco later this year has decided it will not participate in the games if there is any [00:11:30] participation by gay South African sports people. The decision was prompted by a letter from Hart concerning the plight of a gay and anti apartheid activist, Simon and Cody, currently imprisoned in South Africa. Apparently, gay groups from South Africa have not responded to requests from other international groups. For them to do something about the situation, however, Wilde is all very well to say what you like. If you are not living in South Africa, it is [00:12:00] not clear either what sort of pressure gay political groups are under in South Africa and now some international gay news. New Zealand is not the only country to have recently achieved gay law reform. Belgium has had an age of consent of 16, and a bill repealing the discriminatory age of 18 was passed in the Senate in June. The repeal bill was first introduced by a Socialist MP in June 1983. [00:12:30] A new move towards equality for gay and lesbian couples has been made in Australia. The lobbying group, called the Gay Immigration Task Force, have succeeded in getting the Australian Federal Minister for Immigration to allow non Australian partners of gay Australians permanent residency on the basis of genuine relationships. The minister required that proof in the form of evidence that a couple had lived together for more than four years was required. Temporary resident visas [00:13:00] will be allowed so as to establish the four year period in cases. So far, 40 applications for permanent or temporary residents have been approved. While this is hardly equality with the laws governing heterosexual marriages and immigration, it is a step if you are interested, the group can be contacted at GITFPO. Box 415 NS W-2 Double 01 Australia. [00:13:30] Mhm. Well, that was a never ending, 12 inch version of love to Love your baby, Um, from Bronski Beat before Jimmy Someville left them. It's, um, just about 12 o'clock, and I'll [00:14:00] just give you a few community notices before we go. Um, Pink Triangle has just been published the latest edition, and it features um, as well as international news, which we ripped off for this programme. An interview with Dennis Altman, the Australian gay rights activist and author of AIDS and the New Puritanism, and that book is reviewed, among other things, in Pink Triangle and also a live interview with him. Well, not live but an interview, and there will be a rundown of the gay and lesbian films in the film festival. I went to the first one last [00:14:30] night called My Beautiful Laundrette, and it was excellent. Uh, there's also an interview with a person with AIDS. Um, apart from that Oh yeah, you can get it in your local bookstores. Good bookstores around town. Um, the real raffle is still being run by the Gay task force, and tickets are $2. The first prize is $400 and the raffle closes on July the 30th, and it'll be drawn on the sixth of August. Uh, it's limited to 1500 tickets, and the campaign [00:15:00] may be over, but the task force still has a lot of bills to pay, So this is a fundraising effort that you can contribute to. The next Gay Task Force meeting is on Wednesday, the 24th of July at 6 p.m. at the Dorian and the major point of discussion will be the future function of the gay task force. A victory celebration dance has been tentatively planned for the 23rd of July And that's, um, tentative at the moment a Wednesday night and among the guests will be leading MP S, who supported [00:15:30] the bill. The task force sent a flower to every MP who supported the bill on Thursday. As for Monday, the Gay Task Force Office at the Community Centre will be closed until further notice. We've just heard from our roving reporter, Alison Laurie, that she telephoned the International Gay Association conference in Copenhagen the night the bill was passed and told the news to Miriam Sofia, who was New Zealand's representative at that conference. And she relayed [00:16:00] the news to a reception which was going on at the time. And there was a great deal of celeb celebration and clapping and cheering, followed by a march to the American Embassy in Copenhagen against protesting against the Supreme Court's decision in the US by five votes to four making sodomy unconstitutional. And that includes oral and anal intercourse for gay and straight people. So we don't know what's going to happen in the future for those wondrous United States [00:16:30] leaders. If anybody wants to go to the International Lesbian and Gay Youth Conference being held in Oslo, that's different from the IG. A conference. Uh, the International Conference for Lesbian and Gay Youth is being held in August. Oslo. And if you want to get involved in that or perhaps even go to it, um, you should get in contact with the ABC. Um, collective. That's PO. Box 3264 Wellington Uh, this is KBC radio. You're listening to the gay radio collective. And, um, [00:17:00] if you want to ring for any information, uh, or counselling, you can ring the switchboard on 728, 609. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That's the gay switchboard. 7 to 10 p.m. for information and counselling. Remember, the fight's not over. Um, there's a great deal, of course, for celebration, but we lost part two of the bill. And lesbians and gays in this country still don't have any protection from anti discrimination. So it's no time to sit back on our laurels. It looks like the fundamentalist Christians are planning a new [00:17:30] campaign, so we mustn't, uh, let them get away with what they tried to get away with before we'll see you later.
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