Harsh Treatment Alleged (Press, 13 May 1974)
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Summary: Harsh Treatment Alleged (Press, 13 May 1974)
On 12 May 1974, significant concerns were raised regarding the treatment of homosexual women in New Zealand’s Auckland law courts. During a session before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Women’s Rights, members of the Gay Liberation Movement and the Gay Feminists Collective made joint submissions asserting that homosexual women faced harsher treatment compared to other female offenders. Sharon Alston, a representative of the movement, highlighted that authorities within the prison system would often deny visits from female friends to homosexual women inmates if there was any suspicion that the visitor was a romantic partner. The chairman of the committee, Mr Norman Douglas, expressed his serious concern over these allegations. He indicated that he would approach the Minister of Justice, Dr Finlay, to request an official report on the matter, signalling a potential inquiry into the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals within the legal system. In addition to the serious discussions on the rights of homosexual women, the report also included announcements of several engagements in the community. Notable engagements included Elizabeth Jane Denham to Simon James Dorman, Moehau Norris to David John Lamont, Lorraine Lilian Chappell to George Herbert Shepherd, and Rhonda May Biair to Theodorus Hendrikus Van Der Stap. These engagements were met with joy by their respective families and were part of the community celebrations alongside the more pressing social issues being addressed in Parliament. This juxtaposition of legal advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and personal life events illustrates the diverse social landscape of New Zealand in 1974, where calls for increased awareness and equality were gaining momentum amidst traditional societal norms.
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