Gay Lib. ‘strategies’ (Press, 21 June 1975)

On 21 June 1975, the spokesperson for the Christchurch Gay Liberation Front, Mr M. Waghome, announced the organisation's intentions to implement election strategies that could significantly impact the Labour Party and Members of Parliament (M.P.s) who hold anti-homosexual views. During a Thursday evening statement, Mr Waghome refrained from detailing the specific strategies being developed but indicated that plans were progressing well, including discussions with the Prime Minister. Mr Waghome specifically challenged the Prime Minister's assertion that proposed homosexual legislation would not influence voting patterns. He argued that this viewpoint overlooked the presence and influence of the Values and Social Credit parties, which could play a pivotal role in the upcoming elections. He suggested that the strategies of the Liberation Front could sway voters in marginal electoral seats, indicating that these areas would be a focus for Front members working to support candidates from other parties. In response to comments made by former Prime Minister Harry Rowling regarding the parliamentary mood on homosexuality, Mr Waghome expressed frustration. He pointed out that the estimated 75,000 to 150,000 homosexual individuals in New Zealand were becoming increasingly intolerant of politicians who seem reluctant to engage with the issue, drawing a parallel to the repeated discussions on the abortion debate that unfold every three years. This statement underscores the urgency and significance of the homosexual rights movement in the context of New Zealand's political landscape during this period.

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