Homosexual Law Changes (Press, 27 June 1985)
This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.
Summary: Homosexual Law Changes (Press, 27 June 1985)
In a series of letters to the editor, individuals express their views regarding the Homosexual Law Reform Bill in New Zealand. J. I. Doney emphasises several key points in her argument against those opposed to the bill. She asserts that homosexuals do not commit acts of rape against women, contrasting it with the actions of some heterosexuals. Doney anticipates a potential rebuttal concerning abuse of boys, urging critics to consider the statistics of sexual molestation of girls by heterosexual men, particularly in incest cases. She argues against using criminal law to enforce moral standards and insists that laws should not discriminate between genders, stating that a law distinguishing between homosexuals and lesbians is unjust. In another letter, E. R. L. Wilson responds to Mark D. Sadler’s views supporting legal tolerance towards homosexuals, addressing Sadler’s comments regarding the age of consent. Wilson critiques Sadler’s interpretation of statistics from the Kinsey Report, noting that at age 16, a significant portion of individuals reported some homosexual activity, while 50 per cent identified as exclusively heterosexual. By the age of 20, those identifying as exclusively heterosexual increased to 65 per cent, but the proportion indicating homosexual behaviour remained steady at 26 per cent, indicating that the rise in exclusive heterosexuality was matched by a decrease in those inactive in sexual relationships. Wilson highlights that this suggests a lack of evidence for a transition from homosexuality to heterosexuality and underscores the point that adolescent homosexual behaviour does not determine a person's sexual orientation throughout their life. Both letters reflect the societal tensions and debates surrounding homosexual rights in New Zealand during this period, contributing to the larger conversation regarding the legal and moral implications of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill.
Important Information
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