Crimes Amendment Bill (Press, 8 July 1975)
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Summary: Crimes Amendment Bill (Press, 8 July 1975)
The letters published in "The Press" on 7 July 1975 express concern about the legal status of homosexual relationships in New Zealand. John G. Jones responds to Mr Blanchfield's comments regarding the prosecution of adult males in private relationships, arguing that the stigma of criminality associated with homosexuality is unwarranted. He points out that homosexuals wish for the same freedoms and openness in their relationships that heterosexuals enjoy, highlighting a societal double standard. Jones questions the persistence of a legal distinction between homosexual and heterosexual relationships when psychological perspectives have evolved. Another letter, signed "Men’s Lib or Justice?", critiques the three women Members of Parliament who voted against the Crimes Amendment Bill, suggesting their decision prevented the bill from passing its second reading. The author sees this as an ironic denial of fundamental sexual freedoms for men, which women still possess. They question the motivation behind the women M.P.s' vote and challenge them to reconsider their stance, especially in light of the ongoing discourse during International Women's Year. The letters illuminate the tension between legal frameworks, societal attitudes towards sexuality, and the call for equality in sexual freedoms.
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