Protest Against Bill (Press, 12 June 1975)

On 11 June 1975, a demonstration was held outside the Parliament Buildings in Wellington, where approximately 200 people gathered to protest against a proposed amendment to a bill seeking to legalise homosexual acts between consenting males. The amendment, put forward by Dr G. A. Wall, a Labour MP from Porirua, suggested imposing a maximum prison sentence of two years for anyone who claimed to a person under the age of 20 that homosexuality is normal. The demonstration, organised by a campaign against the Wall amendment, lasted for 80 minutes and featured a variety of speakers, including Dr Wall and other MPs from different political parties. Protesters carried banners with messages such as “Will he wipe our bottoms too ’cos we don’t want thought control.” Speakers at the event included Walter Scott from the Council for Civil Liberties and Jack Goodwin from the Homosexual Law Reform Society. When Dr Wall took to the stage amidst heckling, he argued that the amendment was not an infringement on free speech and claimed it was necessary to prevent the promotion of homosexuality as normal among young students. In response, Pauline Simmonds from the Sisters for Homophile Equality passionately declared her belief in her normalcy and rejected Wall’s views. The event drew attention to a range of conflicting opinions within Parliament itself. Two Labour MPs, Mr C. R. Marshall and Dr M. R. Bassett, publicly voiced their opposition to the amendment, along with National Party members W. F. Birch and D. A. Highet, who also delivered brief speeches against it. The controversial Crimes Amendment Bill, which includes Dr Wall’s amendment, had been delayed but was scheduled to be debated again in Parliament soon. Initially placed at thirtieth on the Order Paper with 33 items, it was reinstated to a more prominent second position after the Budget debate concluded. The second reading of the bill was anticipated to involve a “conscience vote,” allowing members of Parliament from both parties to express their individual opinions without party discipline.

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