B.c.n.z., Si S. Accused Of ‘gay’... (Press, 20 June 1985)

On 20 June 1985, it was reported that the Security Intelligence Service (S.I.S.) and the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand (B.C.N.Z.) are facing scrutiny regarding workplace discrimination against homosexuals. The issues were highlighted in a submission made by the Public Service Association (P.S.A.) concerning the ongoing Homosexual Law Reform Bill, which seeks to decriminalise consensual sex between adult males over the age of 16. The Parliament's Statutes Revision Committee, led temporarily by Labour MP Bill Dillon, intends to investigate the allegations if they are confirmed. The P.S.A. raised serious concerns about the vetting procedures of the S.I.S., suggesting that they sometimes crossed the line into harassment. The association pointed out that the S.I.S. focused unduly on the sexual orientation of public servants, suggesting that this was due to fears of blackmail that could stem from being homosexual. The P.S.A. claimed that all officers at a specific Public Service level, as well as individuals being considered for overseas positions, were required to undergo security clearances. During the vetting process, applicants were asked to provide referees, who were then questioned about the applicants' sexual orientation, among other aspects of their personal lives. P.S.A. vice-president Colin Feslier noted that one woman discovered that individuals she had never met were queried about her sexual orientation. In addition to the S.I.S. issues, the P.S.A. documented other instances where homosexuals were allegedly discriminated against in the workplace. One particularly striking example involved a B.C.N.Z. employee who was photographed at a homosexual rights rally. Following the publication of the photograph in a newspaper, the individual was called in for an interview by five senior male B.C.N.Z. officials and told that the photograph would be kept in his personal file for 40 years. He was pressured to resign, although intervention from the P.S.A. led to the removal of the photograph from his record. Nevertheless, the individual eventually chose to resign. The Statutes Revision Committee is seeking confirmation from the P.S.A. regarding the accuracy of these claims and has assured that witnesses would be protected by confidentiality. There were discussions in the committee about allowing the S.I.S. a chance to respond to the allegations. The ongoing dialogue reflects a broader societal examination of homosexual rights and the implications of the proposed legal reforms in 1985.

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