A.I.D.S. Plague If Law Changed—mr Lee (Press, 12 April 1985)

On 12 April 1985, calls to abandon homosexual law reform legislation in New Zealand were intensified due to concerns about an AIDS epidemic in the United States described as of "plague proportions." Hauraki MP Mr Graeme Lee was at the forefront of this campaign, gathering support across the country for a petition opposing the reform. He referenced alarming statements from Dr Robert Gallo, who discovered the AIDS virus, noting that around two million Americans were already infected with the disease. Dr Gallo also warned that this grim statistic could extend to Europe in the coming years. Mr Lee argued that the AIDS crisis rendered the debate around homosexual law reform fundamentally public rather than private. He emphasised the significant mortality rate associated with AIDS, suggesting that if it continued, it would constitute an unprecedented public health crisis. Lee attributed 85 per cent of AIDS transmission to the homosexual community and claimed that legalising homosexual behaviour would inevitably lead to a surge in cases. He further contended that homosexual practices were responsible for increasing various diseases, including hepatitis and syphilis, and he urged for an immediate halt to the legislation on the grounds of the potential health costs to the nation. In contrast, the chief promoter of the homosexual law reform, Ms Fran Wilde, dismissed Lee’s assertions as misguided. She argued that the existence of disease ought not to be correlated with sexual orientation and that keeping homosexuality hidden behind a veil of illegality would not curb the spread of AIDS. Wilde maintained that labelling individuals as "criminals" based on their sexual preferences hindered effective public health initiatives and education regarding the disease. Ms Wilde challenged the opposition's viewpoint, highlighting that the law could not change sexual orientation, much like it could not change a person's handedness. She accused Mr Lee and his supporters of fixating solely on the physicalities of sex, neglecting the emotional and relational aspects tied to human connections, love, and affection. Wilde quipped about the absurdity of attributing unrelated health issues to homosexual behaviour, showing that the argument against reform lacked a rational basis. This debate underscored the larger societal tensions regarding homosexuality, public health, and legislative measures in New Zealand during that period, reflecting differing perspectives on the intersection of health, sexuality, and law.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand