Public Attitudes To Homosexuality (Press, 21 December 1973)
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Summary: Public Attitudes To Homosexuality (Press, 21 December 1973)
On 21 December 1973, a letter to the editor in Christchurch raised concerns about what the author describes as visual pollution caused by graffiti related to the Gay Liberation Movement. The writer, A. Bramwell Cook, points to various slogans painted on city walls, such as "Lesbians are lovely" and "Gay is proud. Free contraception. Legalise abortion." Cook criticises these messages, suggesting that they detract from the decency of Christchurch and questioning whether the city, which aspires to be the "gayest city" for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, should market itself with such slogans that promote the aims of the Gay movement and related groups. Cook mentions that those responsible for the graffiti have faced justice, but he insinuates that the punishment has not been sufficient, as the graffiti remains and continues to offend. He urges that they should have been made to remove their messages. The letter raises concerns about the image that Christchurch will project to visitors because of these public displays, suggesting that such expressions of identity should not be tolerated in the city's visual landscape. Another letter from a writer identifying as "Jim Abelson" echoes similar sentiments, although it shifts the focus to societal attitudes and legal frameworks surrounding homosexuality. Abelson critiques the changes in British law that allowed homosexual relations between consenting adults in private and argues that the electorate has been misled into accepting public displays from LGBTQ+ groups. He expresses disdain for what he labels the "noisy psychopaths" advocating for rights that Abelson views as inappropriate and damaging to societal norms. Abelson claims that media portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly sympathetic coverage on television, have been misleading and overly generous. He describes certain programmes and documentaries as biased and detrimental, arguing that while private homosexual behaviour cannot visibly be acknowledged, there is a push for public acceptance that he believes is unjustified. Both letters express a clear opposition to the visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in the public domain, and call into question the implications of these movements on broader societal values in Christchurch. The letters reflect a period of societal tension regarding sexual orientation and public perception, highlighting a struggle between emerging freedoms for the LGBTQ+ community and traditional societal attitudes.
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