Homosexual Law Changes (Press, 7 June 1985)

On 7 June 1985, a letter published in a newspaper revealed the ongoing public debate regarding homosexuality, prompted by prior columns that included input from various writers. Keith Wignall responded to Mark Sadler's assertion that homosexuality prevents men from experiencing the fulfilment of parenthood. Wignall challenged this view by pointing out that many homosexuals have been married and have children. He noted that individuals can lead fulfilling lives without the desire for procreation, arguing that not everyone is as obsessed with having children as Sadler suggested. Wignall also highlighted the biological fact that men lack the anatomical ability to bear children. In another letter, Varian J. Wilson critiqued Sadler’s reasoned argument on the topic of homosexuality, labelling the responses from reform supporters as marked by arrogance and distortion. Wilson, who identified as a non-religious individual, expressed his concerns about the rising acceptance of homosexuality over the past two decades. He referenced his experience and suggested that homosexual behaviour is not innate but rather a result of societal pressures. Wilson pointed to what he described as a compulsive syndrome associated with promiscuity among some homosexuals, citing a comment from an Auckland pastor who lamented that many had predetermined their lifestyle choices regardless of health risks. Both letters reflect the broader societal tensions and contrasting views on the topic of homosexuality during that period.

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