Part ‘gay’ Law Reform Likely (Press, 24 August 1985)

The ongoing efforts to reform New Zealand's laws regarding homosexuality are capturing significant public interest and parliamentary attention, as discussed in an article published on 24 August 1985. The Homosexual Law Reform Bill is currently under review by a Parliamentary select committee, which is gathering opinions and evidence from the public. When the bill returns to Parliament, it will be subjected to a free vote by members, allowing them to act according to their personal convictions rather than party lines. Among the 94 members of Parliament, three distinct groups have emerged regarding their stance on the proposed reforms. The smallest group, including key advocate Fran Wilde, seeks full adoption of the bill's reforms, which aim to legalise consensual sexual acts between adult males. Conversely, the opposing faction, led by National Party members Graeme Lee and Norman Jones, entirely rejects any form of reform and has campaigned against it through a national petition. The largest segment consists of members who express mild or ambiguous opinions on the topic, avoiding public declarations of their beliefs. This group has conducted private polling in their electorates, reflecting a reluctance to disrupt their political careers by taking a firm stance on a contentious issue. Critics outside Parliament have expressed discontent with these members for not publicly articulating their views, but many of these MPs prioritise maintaining broad principles of representation over strong individual opinions. The article also notes that a Christchurch man has solicited the views of all MPs on the reform, revealing a mix of responses with a slight majority indicating support for some level of reform. The most likely outcome seems to be the legalisation of consensual sexual acts among males aged 20 years or older, aligning with existing legal frameworks for heterosexual relationships. However, the legislation's proposal to classify homosexual acts as equal to heterosexual acts is expected to face resistance from a majority of MPs. Additionally, the bill seeks to amend existing Human Rights legislation to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, further proposing to classify non-consensual acts between males as rape. Yet, it appears unlikely that the bill will eliminate all legal distinctions between homosexual and heterosexual acts as intended, leading to a probable scenario of modest reforms instead of comprehensive ones. In summary, while there is a burgeoning recognition of the need for change in the approach to homosexual law in New Zealand, the actual implementation of such reforms may be limited as various MPs navigate their political affiliations and public sentiment. The final vote on the Homosexual Law Reform Bill will ultimately reveal the Parliament's stance on these pressing social issues.

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