Methodists In Favour Of Legal Toleration Of... (Press, 7 November 1961)

On 6 November 1961, the Methodist Conference in Auckland endorsed a report advocating for the legal toleration of homosexual acts between consenting adults. This report will be submitted to the New Zealand Government as a first step towards addressing issues surrounding homosexuality. The conference also called for further investigation into the causes of homosexuality, suggesting that government resources be allocated to support educational, medical, and psychiatric research. The report contended that acknowledging certain circumstances where homosexual behaviour should not be criminalised does not equate to endorsing immorality. It highlighted inconsistencies in current laws regarding homosexual offences, particularly noting that female homosexuality is largely overlooked by the legal system. The report pointed out that it is unjust for male homosexual acts to incur severe penalties while similar actions by women go unpunished. Furthermore, the conference expressed concern about inequities in punishment, stating that it is contrary to the common good for homosexual acts to face harsher penalties than adultery, which is essentially unpunished. It questioned the effectiveness of imprisonment as a deterrent for homosexual behaviour, arguing that most experts agree such punishment is largely futile. The report also countered fears that legal reform would lead to rampant licence, asserting that the actual deterrent effect of existing laws is unclear, and many individuals engage in homosexual acts regardless of legal consequences. In addition to addressing homosexuality, the conference requested that its public questions committee prepare a statement regarding flogging and similar corporal punishment, particularly as a supposed remedy for moral offences. It also encouraged the inter-church council of public affairs to explore the discrimination faced by athletes who refuse to play or compete on Sundays due to personal convictions. The conference expressed strong support for the New Zealand Parliament's recent decision to abolish the death penalty for murder, praising the Minister of Justice, Mr Hanan, for his principled stance. They also advocated for the abolition of the death penalty for treason, reflecting their broader commitment to reforming punitive measures in society.

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