AN INVITATION In mid-1986, after much acrimonious debate the NZ Parliament voted to end hundreds of years of persecution of homosexual men. At the stroke of the Governor General's pen gay men were suddenly free of legal persecution by the police, courts and other government agencies! GayNZ.com would like to assemble and publish a collection of memories of what life was like before homosexuality was decriminalised. Stories of evading public notice or official scrutiny; how and where it was safe, or unsafe, to meet other gay men, brushes with the law; comradeship; attitudes of friends, family and society at large. Stories of triumphing over the legal and social restrictions; or of personal, social and sexual repression. Stories of the fight for change, as participant or observer. Stories of how you felt when Parliament voted to free you from being a criminal for being gay, how your life changed. Real life, pre-Homosexual Law Reform. We invite you to send your story, be it short or long, polished or rough and ready, by clicking the link at the below. You might write your piece as a letter to the generation which has never known the stigma, and fear of legal repression. End with your name (first name will do), location then and now and hit the send button. Should your email address be transmitted to us we will keep it confidential, but having your email address may help us should we need to follow up or discuss your writing. Jay Bennie GayNZ.com Content Editor GayNZ.com - 7th April 2006