Gay Anger At Comparison (Press, 29 December 1976)
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Summary: Gay Anger At Comparison (Press, 29 December 1976)
On 29 December 1976, P. R. H. Maling, co-ordinator of the Gay Liberation Front in New Zealand, spoke out against the comparison of homosexual interests to dishonest practices, which he claimed reflects a lack of maturity and intelligence among many New Zealanders. His comments were prompted by two reports published in the previous week's edition of "The Press." One report by Professor G. D. Willson from the London Institute of Psychiatry praised New Zealand for its intelligent and progressive perspective on life, noting that the country had adopted the best practices from Britain and the United States. Conversely, Sir Alfred North, in his analysis of the Moyle affair, remarked on the gravity of accusing a senior member of Parliament of homosexual interests and alleging involvement in dishonest business practices. He indicated that given the contemporary climate, he saw no reason to determine which allegation could be deemed more harmful. Maling responded by pointing out that despite the passage of 19 years since the Wolfenden report, which recommended the decriminalisation of consensual homosexual acts between adults, such acts remained illegal in New Zealand. He highlighted that Parliament had rejected a law reform bill the previous year, a decision that the Indecent Publications Tribunal subsequently cited to classify books containing homosexual themes as indecent. He argued that contrary to Professor Willson's claims, New Zealand had not adequately embraced the advancements made in other countries. Maling noted that the UK had reformed its anti-homosexual laws nine years prior, and many states in the United States were also making significant progress in reforming their laws. He pointed out that Australia had advanced further than New Zealand in these areas. Maling concluded that New Zealand was lagging behind other Western nations, emphasizing that its current stance on homosexual rights was regressive and a significant setback for personal liberty.
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