David Hindley/NZHistory.net.nz Non-profit archive website PrideNZ.com has made dramatic footage and audio from the fierce Homosexual Law Reform battle available, to mark the impending 25th anniversary of the critical law change. On the 9 July 1986, the Homosexual Law Reform Bill was passed after 16-months of heated nationwide debate. It decriminalised sexual acts between men and set the scene for later law changes around discrimination and recognition of same-sex partners. PrideNZ.com co-ordinator Gareth Watkins says many of the demonstrations and rallies were recorded by community radio broadcasters who later deposited their material with the Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand (LAGANZ). "This will be the first time many of these historic recordings will be heard by a national and international audience," he says. Among the recordings is John Banks' response to the bill passing: "This day will be remembered as a sad and sickening day for New Zealand". There are also recordings of protests, heated confrontations with the Salvation Army, MP Norman Jones calling for gays to go "back into the sewers where you come from", and law reform campaigner Alison Laurie rallying supporters to "be as gay and as lesbian as you can, all the time". There are also recordings from the early 1980s that give a glimpse into what it was like to be gay or lesbian in New Zealand at that time. Adding to the archival audio is a series of dramatic photographs shot at marches and rallies by photographer David Hindley. "David's images capture the energy, venom, and celebration of the time. We are also very fortunate to have David talking about the photographs and putting them in context," Watkins says. The wealth of audio and photos also includes a newly-recorded panel discussion featuring key Law Reform proponents Fran Wilde, Alison Laurie and Bill Logan, which was recorded earlier this year at Te Papa during the 2nd AsiaPacific Outgames week in Wellington. PrideNZ.com was established in 2009 to be a creative and positive not-for-profit space for Queer/LGBTI voices from Aotearoa New Zealand.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 27th June 2011 - 11:50am