Homosexual Reform Bill Dropped (Press, 23 August 1979)
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Summary: Homosexual Reform Bill Dropped (Press, 23 August 1979)
On 22 August 1979, the Labour Member of Parliament for Mount Albert, Mr W. W. Freer, announced his decision to abandon a proposed private member’s bill that aimed to legalise homosexual acts between consenting males aged 20 and over. Mr Freer indicated that the move to amend the law was met with resistance because some members of both the homosexual and heterosexual communities saw it as an opportunity to push for broader changes than what Parliament or New Zealand society would accept.
He expressed that although he believed the existing law regarding homosexual acts was absurd, the emergence of demands to lower the age of consent to 16 had caused a notable shift against reform among his parliamentary colleagues. Mr Freer stated, "There is little justification for proceeding with legislation when the people I hoped Parliament would assist are so divided in their personal approach to this problem." He lamented that the vocal opposition from certain groups had hindered progress that could have provided some legal protection for men who lived under the fear of blackmail or police actions due to their sexual orientation.
The debate surrounding the issue involved contention about what the appropriate age for legal homosexual acts should be. The Gay Rights Coalition advocated for the age to be set at 16, aligning it with the age of consent for other sexual activities, while other groups like the Homosexual Law Reform Society seemed more receptive to an age range of either 18 or 20.
Previously, a similar bill introduced by the current Minister of Lands, Mr V. S. Young, had been voted down in 1975, with Freer supporting the proposal at that time. The developments in 1979 reflect ongoing societal and legislative challenges surrounding homosexual law reform in New Zealand, indicating a complexity of opinions, concerns, and the changing dynamics within Parliament regarding issues of sexual orientation and legal rights.
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