No Rights, Say ‘gay’ Groups (Press, 2 November 1977)
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Summary: No Rights, Say ‘gay’ Groups (Press, 2 November 1977)
Delegates representing 15 New Zealand organisations advocating for gay rights raised concerns about proposed legislation affecting the rights of homosexual individuals. This statement was made at the conclusion of the inaugural conference of the National Gay Rights Coalition, chaired by Ms Judith Emms. Ms Emms expressed disappointment over the Human Rights Commission Bill, highlighting significant omissions regarding the protection of basic human rights for thousands of New Zealanders. She emphasised that essential needs such as employment, accommodation, and access to services should be safeguarded against discrimination and prejudice, a principle the government acknowledges. Genuine human rights legislation, according to Ms Emms, should promote equality for all individuals, including those from heavily discriminated communities such as homosexuals and de facto couples. She criticized politicians for what she viewed as superficial justifications for excluding these groups from legal protection, asserting that Parliament has a responsibility to safeguard the rights of all societal members. The current bill, by excluding certain groups, implies that they are unworthy of protection, which she condemned as a form of legalised discrimination. Ms Emms posed a philosophical question on equality, suggesting that either all individuals are equal, or not, and argued that the bill in question unjustly categorises some individuals as more equal than others. She lamented what she perceives as a decline in New Zealand's commitment to equality and welfare, highlighting that fundamental rights—such as the right to work, find a home, and access public services—are being reserved for a privileged few rather than being extended to all citizens.
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