Homosexuality And Society (Press, 30 September 1968)

At a seminar organised by the Canterbury Association for Mental Health on 28 September 1968, Dr L. K. Gluckman from Auckland presented an argument regarding the implications of societal acceptance of homosexuality. He proposed that acceptance could lead to the emergence of other non-conventional forms of sexual expression. Dr Gluckman stated that studies typically indicate that homosexuality is not the only form of unorthodox sexual behaviour present in societies where consensual homosexual practices occur. He noted the paradox that behaviours often deemed forbidden tend to attract individuals, leading to experimentation. Dr Gluckman argued that homosexuality, while commonly found across many cultures, is not biological in nature and should be treated appropriately, advocating for a perspective where medical science informs legislation rather than legislation dictating medical practice. He discussed the prevalence of homosexuality globally, asserting that it exists in many cultures despite being condemned. Dr Gluckman expressed skepticism towards the assertion that adult homosexuals lack interest in minors, citing evidence from transcultural literature. His own knowledge drew heavily from New Zealand’s Polynesian background and the Pacific Island immigrant community. Dr Gluckman claimed that homosexuality among males was virtually non-existent in pre-European New Zealand, suggesting its introduction came with European influence. He speculated that contact with European seamen may have facilitated these changes, resulting in the incorporation of homosexual relationships into Maori culture. He observed that ancient Maori accepted sexuality as a natural expression of life, but European religious morals and concepts of sin disrupted this acceptance, thus altering sexual practices within the community. He mentioned the absence of any word for lesbianism in the Maori language and noted that elderly Maori individuals had not encountered the concept in their lifetimes, while many younger Maori women identified as lesbians. Dr Gluckman also explored various sexual deviations and their cross-cultural dimensions, pondering the insufficient understanding of how counter-Christian beliefs shaped societal attitudes towards homosexuality throughout history. He concluded that environments that isolated the sexes or discouraged open sexuality were likely to foster homosexual expressions, although their permanence would depend on individual circumstances and contexts. Ultimately, he stated his belief that homosexuality influenced by genetic or endocrine factors is extremely rare, suggesting instead that homosexual behaviours often arise from a person’s environment and individual experiences.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand