Move To Soften U.S. Law On Sex Deviates (Press, 22 July 1982)

On 22 July 1982, it was reported that homosexuals worldwide are advocating for the United States Congress to amend a law that prohibits "sexual deviates" from entering the country unless specific waivers are issued. Sylvia Borneo, a lesbian holding both New Zealand and Dutch citizenship, disclosed during a congressional briefing that her entry into the U.S. is restricted to the Northern California court district. This is due to an injunction by a judge that prevents the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) from denying entry to homosexuals. Borneo explained that her situation could have been different had she registered as a lesbian under a ruling by a former U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, allowing for a specific coding on her Dutch visa. She has previously visited the United States four times on her New Zealand passport but had to deny her sexual orientation on the visa applications to gain entry. Now residing in the Netherlands, Borneo spent her youth in New Zealand from ages 12 to 25. She was among over 100 homosexuals from around 20 countries gathering in Washington to address a variety of topics including political strategies, education, transsexuality, and issues affecting the gay community. Many participants of the international gay association conference admitted to lying about their sexuality to obtain visas, while some were granted waivers for entry. The legislative background is rooted in the Immigration and Nationality Act, which was amended in 1952 to exclude individuals considered “afflicted with psychopathic personality,” epilepsy, or other mental defects. In 1962, an appeal court ruled the term “psychopathic personality” to be overly vague regarding homosexuals, leading to further amendments in 1965 that introduced the term "sexual deviation." Despite these changes, a Supreme Court ruling in 1967 upheld the "psychopathic personality" clause as valid grounds for the deportation of homosexual foreigners. In 1980, the INS announced it would only exclude homosexual aliens who openly declared their sexual orientation without solicitation. Responding to ongoing advocacy, a Democrat congressman from California introduced an amendment in the House of Representatives aimed at repealing the exclusionary language regarding homosexuals. This proposed bill has garnered the support of 29 co-sponsors, signalling a potential shift in policy regarding the entry of homosexual individuals into the United States.

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