Parliament's Justice and Electoral Committee have announced it will be taking submissions over the next six weeks on a petition calling for historic homosexual convictions to be overturned. Green MP Kevin Hague Picture: David Tong With over 2000 signatures, the petition lead by legal activist Wiremu Demchick, was tabled by Green MP Kevin Hague early last month. “Wiremu made his submission as the lead petitioner this morning and did a great job,” says Hague. “I was really impressed by the attitude of MPs from all parties present, who seem to be genuinely open to the issues he raised.” “I’m particularly pleased that the Committee has opened up public submissions on the petition over the next six weeks. This is a really unusual step, but recognises the high degree of public interest and support for the idea of an apology and pardon, and the profound impact the historic law had on men who received convictions.” He says that he thinks this submission process “is especially important because men who were convicted, and their families and friends have never really had the chance to tell their stories of what happened and how they have been affected. “I want to urge as many of these men as possible to take the opportunity to tell their stories, and to encourage submissions from everyone in our communities, so that we may be able to do what is possible to rectify the great harm that has been done.” The petition requests that the Government “(a) promptly issue an official apology to those convicted, and (b) pass legislation which sets out a process for reversing the convictions of those convicted, both living and deceased, in a manner which upholds the mana and dignity of those convicted." Between 1 July 1980 and 8 August 1986, 879 men were convicted for offences which included having anal sex with another man over the age of 16, keeping a place of resort for homosexual acts and committing an “indecent” homosexual act. These figures do not take into account the convictions prior to July 1980.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 25th August 2016 - 3:11pm