Law Reform Opponents Seek To Sway M.P.s (Press, 26 September 1985)
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Summary: Law Reform Opponents Seek To Sway M.P.s (Press, 26 September 1985)
On 26 September 1985, a campaign opposing the homosexual law reform in New Zealand intensified its efforts by sending 95 glossy, gold-coloured brochures to all members of Parliament. Each brochure, personalised with the name of the respective MP and their electorate, featured an outline of New Zealand adorned with an artist's representation of an anti-reform petition. Prominently displayed was the phrase "For God, for family, for country," encircled in gold. The campaign, led by chief petitioners such as Mr Keith Hay and supported by Mr Charles Linden, a Justice of the Peace, asserted that the petition process had been thorough and honest. The materials included data on the significance of the MPs' majority in their electorates and the number of signatures they had collected opposing the reform. Since March 21, the campaign claimed to have gathered 800,000 signatures, indicating a public mandate against the bill. The brochure argued that this petition underscored a desire for a "moral direction" in New Zealand, stating that the public was weary of attacks on family values and traditional sexuality norms. Mr Hay expressed that the proposed legislation contradicted the common decency standards held by a substantial number of New Zealand citizens and emphasised that the so-called 'silent majority' was now vocalising their opposition to what they termed as "sodomy," which they labelled a cause of disease. He signalled that if the law were passed, their campaign would persist and become a pivotal issue in the upcoming General Election. In response, Ms Fran Wilde, a supporter of the legislation and member from Wellington Central, condemned the brochure's presentation, particularly its implication that signatories could be equated with electoral voters. She highlighted the misleading association between the signatures collected and the electoral rolls. The debate over the reform reflected a broader clash of values within New Zealand society during this period.
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