Nothing To Cure’ In Homosexuality (Press, 22 June 1974)

On 22 June 1974, Ms Sue Wills, co-president of the Campaign Against Moral Persecution in Australia, spoke out about the challenges faced by female homosexuals during her visit to Christchurch for Gay Pride Week. Throughout the week, she plans to engage with university students and LGBTQ+ groups in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch. Ms Wills highlighted the prevalent social pressures that prevent lesbians from expressing their identities openly, noting that casual conversations, such as those during office tea breaks, can be particularly uncomfortable for women in same-sex relationships. She explained that while heterosexual colleagues discuss their weekends with boyfriends, many lesbians feel compelled to hide their realities. As a psychologist and a Ph.D. student at Sydney University, Ms Wills acknowledged the substantial literature on lesbianism but pointed out the lack of authoritative sources, with much of it containing contradictory views. She recommended three influential books from the United States: "Lesbian Women," "Lesbian Nation," and "Sappho was a Right-On Woman," two of which were authored by women. In her discussion, Wills stressed the evolving definitions of lesbian identity. Traditionally, it referred to women who have emotional and sexual relationships with other women, but the term now encompasses diverse identities, including political lesbians who reject sexual relationships with men and don't engage with women either. Ms Wills challenged stereotypes about lesbians, asserting that the common image of a "bulldog type" is inaccurate. She noted that the women's liberation movement has played a significant role in dismantling these outdated stereotypes and that many feminist groups are beginning to recognise the contributions of lesbians to the movement, despite some instances of exploitation. The dialogue around lesbianism is expanding, particularly with growing media coverage of lesbian mothers—women pressured by societal norms to marry and bear children who are now beginning to embrace their identities publicly. While Ms Wills could not provide specific figures on the lesbian community in New Zealand compared to Australia, she indicated that both movements are witnessing growth. Addressing the topic of sex education, she expressed her belief that discussions surrounding sexuality should include information about homosexuality. She argued that children are likely to hear about these topics through peer interaction, making it essential for schools to provide an informative and inclusive curriculum. Ms Wills emphasised that homosexuals are generally well-adjusted members of society and should not be viewed through the lens of illness or mental instability. She urged for a shift in parental understanding, as many parents remain unaware of their children's sexual orientation. She concluded with the assertion that homosexuality is not a consequence of parental influence, but rather a natural variance in human identity.

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