Commons Approval Of Bill Welcomed (Press, 6 July 1967)
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Summary: Commons Approval Of Bill Welcomed (Press, 6 July 1967)
On 5 July 1967, the House of Commons in the United Kingdom approved legislation that legalises homosexual acts in private between consenting males. The decision was met with enthusiasm from the New Zealand Homosexual Reform Society, whose secretary, Mr J. W. Goodwin, expressed optimism about the implications of this legal change. Mr Goodwin noted that it took Britain a decade to act on the recommendations of the Wolfenden report, which had advocated for the decriminalisation of homosexual behaviour. He voiced hope that a similar reform would not take too long to occur in New Zealand. The society's stance is that homosexuality is a matter of civil liberties and should be left to individual conscience. Mr Goodwin reiterated that their group does not seek moral approval for homosexual behaviour but advocates for legal reforms that ensure adequate protection for minors. Their constitution, which will be registered under the Incorporated Societies Act the following week, reflects this philosophy. The organisation sees the British legislation as a progressive step and a potential catalyst for change in New Zealand's legal stance on homosexuality.
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