Call For Law On Transvestites (Press, 2 June 1973)

On June 1, 1973, the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards submitted proposals to the Statutes Revision Committee in Wellington, advocating for significant changes in the legal definitions and regulations concerning prostitution and public behaviour related to gender presentation. Miss Patricia Bartlett, representing the society, argued that the term “prostitute” in the law should be revised to include both men and women, highlighting the need for gender neutrality in the definition. Furthermore, the society expressed its intention to introduce a legislation clause in the Police Offences Act that would criminalise men dressing as women and appearing in public in such attire. Miss Bartlett pointed to the increasing visibility of men in women’s clothing in certain areas, particularly in specific Wellington hotels and along Auckland’s upper Queen Street, which she described as notorious for these occurrences linked to homosexual prostitution. The society also took a firm stance against homosexuality, insisting that it remain a criminal offence, and proposed that lesbianism, currently legal in New Zealand, should also be criminalised. This reflects a broader aim of the society to reinforce traditional moral standards in the face of what they viewed as increasing deviancy in societal norms. Additionally, Miss Bartlett addressed the existing legislation regarding public exposure, specifically section 47 of the Police Offences Act. She argued that this section should remain unchanged, opposing any move to amend it to accommodate nudist groups. Bartlett contended that allowing nudists to display themselves on public beaches would infringe upon the rights of those who might be offended by such displays, asserting that the government should prioritize protecting public decency over accommodating niche interests. The proposals presented encapsulated a strong desire from the society to reaffirm conservative values in New Zealand's legal framework, reflecting broader societal debates during the time about gender, sexuality, and public morality.

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