Alison Laurie - Bigot Busters rally

At a pivotal political rally titled the Bigot Busters rally at Wellington Town Hall in 1985, Alison Laurie delivered a passionate speech on the intersectionality of oppressions faced by women, particularly emphasizing the experiences of lesbians. The speaker argued that lesbians confront at least a double burden, being oppressed not only as women but also for their sexual orientation. Additionally, for some, factors such as race and class could further compound their marginalization. Laurie stressed that the journey toward liberation is interconnected; no woman can be truly free until the choice to be a lesbian is devoid of societal and economic reprisals.

Laurie illuminated how the society employs vilification of lesbians as a mechanism to maintain rigid gender expectations across all women, leveraging the fear of being labeled a lesbian to stifle autonomy and confine women to stereotypical roles. The insistence on heteronormative behavior keeps many women, in addition to closeted lesbians, entrenched in subservient positions of silence and conformity. The speaker thus linked this struggle to the broader feminist crusade for self-determination over one's body and life choices, including sexual orientation and repudiating the societal prescription of compulsory heterosexuality.

The account recognizes the significance of the bill under discussion—presumably the Homosexual Law Reform Act—endorsing it as a step toward eliminating criminalization and discrimination against gay men, which also casts an unjust stigma upon lesbians. Part two of the bill, which concerns human rights protections for both lesbians and gay men, was identified as essential, although Laurie noted that it did not go as far as measures adopted in other countries, citing the stronger legal protections in Scandinavia against the vilification of sexual minorities.

Laurie then drew attention to the troubling prevalence of homophobia, asserting that the same societal forces driving sexism, racism, and classism emanate from a conservative socio-political structure maintained by straight, white, middle-class men. They epitomize the power dynamic that seeks to preserve privilege by systemically disenfranchising others. Urging solidarity and alliance with other marginalized groups, the speaker invoked historical atrocities, such as the persecution of homosexuals during the Holocaust, as a poignant reminder of what can transpire when rights are trampled and voices of opposition are scattered or silenced.

To overturn this narrative, the necessity of visibility was underscored as a means of empowerment and resistance. Laurie implored those present, and the wider community, to be open about their identity, stressing the hazards of remaining closeted both for individuals and the broader movement. Recognizing the personal risks and sacrifices that could accompany such disclosures, Laurie argued that the cost of inauthenticity to one's mental health and societal invisibility must also be weighed. The call to action was clear: to embrace visibility and to contribute proactively to molding a more secure and inclusive community by actively participating in activism, such as signing support initiatives and joining marches.

The recording captures a seminal moment in the fight for LGBT rights, with Laurie's speech at the Bigot Busters rally resonating as a frank appeal for collective action against systemic oppression.

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Alison Laurie

1980s, activism, alison laurie, bigot busters rally (1985, wellington), gay liberation movement, homosexual law reform, homosexual law reform act (1986), human rights, lesbian, national gay rights coalition, politics, wellington, wellington town hall

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