Names ‘feared’ On Moral Majority Mailing List (Press, 26 September 1985)
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Summary: Names ‘feared’ On Moral Majority Mailing List (Press, 26 September 1985)
On 26 September 1985, Fran Wilde, a Labour MP for Wellington Central and sponsor of the Homosexual Law Reform legislation, expressed concern that names and addresses of petition signatories opposing the reform might be exploited for direct-mail campaigns by the Moral Majority, a US-based organisation. Wilde, who was in the United States studying the operations of the Moral Majority, noted that her office had been contacted by individuals fearful that their personal information would be used without consent. Wilde highlighted the alarming parallels between the political campaigning tactics seen in the United States and what was emerging in New Zealand. She intended to acquire a list of signatories from her electorate's petition to verify their consent to be included on the mailing lists. During her time in the US, she gathered insights into how opposition groups manipulate Christianity for political purposes, viewing this as a valuable learning opportunity that could help New Zealand avert similar issues. She pointed out negative aspects of the US political landscape, including reliance on religious mailing lists for fundraising and campaigning, exemplified by controversial figures such as Reverend Jerry Falwell, known for his extreme views and political fundraising tactics. Wilde condemned these practices as manipulative, describing them as a "dreadful plague of false righteousness." The Christchurch Gay Task Force also responded positively to the petition's presentation against the Homosexual Law Reform. Spokesman Hugh Gaw remarked that the petition had functioned as an unofficial referendum, indicating substantial public sentiment regarding the reform. Despite the opposition's extensive advertising efforts, he claimed that only about a quarter of the New Zealand population supported the petition, implying that the majority either favoured or were indifferent to the proposed law changes. Gaw expressed relief that the petition process appeared to be nearing conclusion, as concerns had arisen over its lengthy duration and the ability of petitioners to garner sufficient support.
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