Homosexual Rights (Press, 4 October 1979)

On 4 October 1979, the former Labour Minister of Justice, Dr A M Finlay, spoke in Wellington about the pressing issue of law reform for homosexual rights. He cautioned that calls for immediate and comprehensive reform could jeopardise the chances for any legislative changes. Instead, he advocated for a more gradual approach, suggesting that step-by-step reforms would likely yield better outcomes and provoke less backlash compared to a more aggressive push for full legalisation. During the annual meeting of the Homosexual Law Reform Society, Dr Finlay expressed disappointment over a division within homosexual groups that had led to the withdrawal of a proposed amendment to the Crimes Act by Mr W. W. Freer, a former Member of Parliament for Mount Albert. This amendment sought to decriminalise homosexual acts between consenting adults over the age of 20. Dr Finlay believed that this bill would have been favourably received by Parliament, especially given the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon’s supportive remarks. Although Parliament would not address the issue in 1979, Dr Finlay urged that the matter should return for consideration in the following year. He and Professor James Robb, a former president of the Homosexual Law Reform Society, recommended that advocates for homosexual equality focus on reforming the Crimes Act first, followed by efforts to amend the Human Rights Commission Act to include protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Professor Robb acknowledged that while law reform, whether partial or complete, was vital, it would not resolve all issues facing the homosexual community. Mr Robin Duff, co-ordinator of the National Gay Rights Coalition, echoed that legal reform was only one aspect of a larger struggle for homosexual rights. He highlighted that in the 1980s, there would be a significant need to advocate for protections regarding job security and personal safety for homosexuals. The discussions underscored a crucial juncture in the efforts for homosexual law reform in New Zealand, with an emphasis on careful, calculated progress rather than abrupt changes that might lead to further division and opposition.

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