Rallies For ‘gay’ Law Reform (Press, 14 September 1985)

On 14 September 1985, Christchurch Cathedral was adorned with pink balloons as over 500 individuals congregated to demonstrate their support for homosexual law reform. The gathering comprised an almost equal mix of men and women who marched through central Christchurch before returning to the Square to listen to various speakers advocating for the reform. The event was organized by the Gay Rights Action Group and Heterosexuals Unafraid of Gays, and it proceeded smoothly with only a few isolated instances of heckling. In Wellington, Paul Reynolds, a prominent homosexual activist, addressed a rally where he declared a firm commitment to ensure the reform bill passed through Parliament without alterations. Speaking to around 2000 enthusiastic supporters in Pigeon Park, he stated, “Every Wednesday that the bill is debated we will crowd the public galleries and see that the bill is passed unamended.” Meanwhile, marches in other major cities also reflected strong support for law reform, with Auckland witnessing a turnout of approximately 8500 participants and Dunedin hosting about 1000. While the police provided lower attendance estimates, the significant numbers indicated growing public advocacy for the issue. In a separate event occurring concurrently in Palmerston North, approximately 300 women conducted a Reclaim the Night march, which symbolised the conclusion of a week focused on "Women and Violence" in the city.

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