Rally Against Reform Bill Attracts 2500 (Press, 15 April 1985)

On 14 April 1985, a rally opposing the Homosexual Law Reform Bill took place in Cathedral Square, organised by the Coalition of Concerned Christians. Among the speakers was Mr Norman Jones, the Member of Parliament for Invercargill, who referred to the bill as the "greatest moral crusade New Zealand had ever had." He urged attendees to demonstrate their opposition to the legislation by signing petitions, arguing that if enough signatures—between 20,000 to 30,000 per electorate—were collected, Parliament would be compelled to reconsider the bill. According to police estimates, around 2,500 people attended the rally, while a smaller group of 100 to 200 demonstrators, identifying as Christians for Tolerance, showed support for the bill. This group carried placards and chanted in favour of their cause, which led to a tense but largely peaceful event, with only one police arrest for offensive language.

Mr Jones expressed grave concerns about the implications of the bill, suggesting it would make it acceptable for educators to present homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle. He challenged the audience to consider how they would explain the legalisation of homosexual acts to their children, questioning the impact on societal values. Speaker Mr Graham Lee, the Member of Parliament for Hauraki, echoed similar sentiments, describing the proposed legislation as "obnoxious and reprehensible." He asserted that it would lead to a significant shift in societal values, particularly as it would partially legalise homosexual acts involving individuals under the age of 16. Mr Lee rejected arguments that homosexual acts were a private matter, insisting that they had broader moral implications affecting the entire community. He also claimed that the rise of A.I.D.S. and the prevalence of venereal diseases in the "gay" community had turned homosexuality into a public issue.

The rally culminated with Pastor David Ravenhill from the Christchurch New Life Centre reinforcing the stance of the other speakers, arguing that Christian doctrine unequivocally condemns homosexuality as a sin. He insisted that it is the Word of God that can guide individuals seeking redemption from homosexuality. As the rally drew to a close, participants collected signatures for the petitions opposing the bill, reflecting a concerted effort to influence public opinion and legislative action against the reform.

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