David Do The role tertiary students played in Homosexual Law Reform is being remembered on the 25th anniversary of the vote in Parliament which allowed sex between men to be decriminalised. "Education has always been the primary focus for NZUSA. However, ‘homosexual’ law reform was also a key area of concern amongst students in the 1980s and an area of much needed social reform," says NZUSA co-President David Do. "Tertiary students helped contribute to the energy and effort in pushing for passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Act in 1986. NZUSA is proud to have been part of a progressive social movement towards a fairer country for everyone, including students," says Do. Do says since then, NZUSA continues to be committed to queer students and advocates for barrier-free education. He cites support for UniQ from its first conference in 1997 through until today, support for the Civil Union Bill in 2004 as key areas the union has continued to be helpful. He adds that NZUSA also has policy that supports official representation of GLBTI students within students associations’ governance and management structure, opposes discrimination and violence on campus and has policy that opposes heterosexism as a form of discrimination "Congratulations to everyone who fought for progress in this country and for a fairer better society today," he concludes.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 9th July 2011 - 12:04pm