Positive Discrimination Backed (Press, 20 June 1985)

On 20 June 1985, Women Against Pornography, a group based in Wellington, expressed its views to a Parliamentary Select Committee regarding the ongoing considerations of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. The bill aims to decriminalise consensual sexual activity among adult males over the age of 16, while also ensuring protections for individuals under 16 and amending the Human Rights Commission Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Women Against Pornography argued that lesbian and homosexual rights groups should be able to "positively" discriminate in their hiring practices, specifically allowing them to seek employees of matching sexual orientation. They advocated for positive representations of homosexual and lesbian sexuality in media and called for its inclusion in sex education programmes. The group condemned the television industry's inconsistency, noting that while programmes depicting violence against women were routinely aired, a lesbian kiss was censored. They expressed outrage at the criteria used by bodies like the Indecent Publications Tribunal, which deemed depictions of lesbianism relevant in decisions about what constituted pornography. The group posited that extending the Human Rights Commission Act to include protections against discrimination based on sexuality could set an essential precedent in combatting hate speech related to sexual orientation. During the hearing, the Gay Task Force also presented its perspectives, emphasising the need to alleviate pressures on homosexual individuals which hindered education about AIDs (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). They argued that changes in both law and societal attitudes were crucial for addressing the AIDs crisis. Furthermore, they contended that the State had no place in legislating or defining morality in relation to consensual sexual activities between adults. The Task Force voiced concerns about the legal challenges public health bodies, like the Health Department, faced in advising on safe sexual practices when those practices were technically illegal. They noted that such legal constraints fostered a climate of fear, discouraging individuals from seeking necessary support or guidance regarding their sexual health. In their submission, the Task Force supported the bill as it stood and maintained that the age of consent should remain at 16. They argued that any deviation from this age would unfairly increase pressures on young gay men and exacerbate discriminatory practices against homosexuality, thus hindering equality. Overall, the proceedings highlighted a significant discourse on LGBTQ rights in New Zealand during the mid-1980s, with advocates pushing for legal reform, the promotion of safe practices, and the dismantling of stigma associated with sexual orientation.

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