Liberal Group Will Examine Petition (Press, 24 September 1985)

On 22 September 1985, a new liberal group named the Campaign for Tolerance was established in Auckland to challenge the prevailing moral majority movement opposing homosexual law reform. Approximately 70 individuals gathered for the inaugural meeting to ratify the group's constitution and discuss its structure and potential campaigns. Barbara Goodman, the chairwoman of the Campaign for Tolerance, announced that the group's initial focus would be on an 800,000-signature petition organised by Keith Hay and Sir Peter Tait, which opposed the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. This petition was anticipated to be submitted to Parliament the following day, where members of Parliament have indicated they will scrutinise the authenticity of the signatures on it.

Goodman expressed concerns about the credibility of the petition, stating there was considerable suspicion surrounding its genuineness. The Campaign for Tolerance aims to assist Parliament in validating the petition's signatures. The group is targeting an initial membership of 1,000 individuals to support a full-time educational initiative that promotes a liberal perspective on contemporary issues, particularly those contested by conservative factions.

In just two weeks of organisation, the Campaign for Tolerance secured interim office-bearers, obtained a temporary post office box and arranged short-term accommodation in Grafton, Auckland, with plans to move to permanent premises in Ponsonby in November. Goodman revealed that the organisation had already raised funds, having received unsolicited donations amounting to $1,680 at the meeting.

The Campaign for Tolerance emerges as a response to the rise of moral conservatism, notably marked by the formation of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens, which is spearheading the campaign against homosexual law reform. Barry Reed, the spokesperson for the coalition, stated that his group welcomes the Campaign for Tolerance, expressing confidence in engaging in constructive debate. He noted that while some people dismiss traditional views as outdated, his group believes that many longstanding opinions are still valid and hopes their perspectives will be heard.

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