Homosexual Reform Move Angers Group (Press, 21 October 1985)

On 21 October 1985, the Women’s National Abortion Action Campaign expressed strong opposition to proposed amendments in New Zealand’s Homosexual Law Reform legislation that aimed to raise the age of consent from 16 to 20 years. This initiative was led by National Party MP Philip Burdon, who claimed the change was intended to protect the health of young homosexual men. Ms Di Cleary, representing the Action Campaign, strongly challenged Burdon's reasoning, arguing that young women also face serious health risks, which he seemed to overlook. Cleary highlighted alarming issues, particularly the recent breakdown of abortion services in Christchurch, which had led to increased rates of attempted suicide and self-induced abortions among women. She noted that cervical cancer, now known to be sexually transmitted, was causing ten times more deaths among women than AIDS was causing across the population. Additionally, she warned that undetected chlamydia could lead to significant infertility issues, suggesting that women's health was not receiving adequate attention compared to other concerns, including the plight of koalas in Australia which were receiving more healthcare for a related strain of chlamydia. Furthermore, Cleary pointed out the socio-economic pressures faced by young women, particularly those with limited job opportunities, who historically have been vulnerable to exploitation in prostitution. She questioned the logic behind suggesting that young girls needed less protection than young boys, asserting that this implied a lower value placed on women. In her view, the original setting of the age of consent at 16 had been a necessary response to the tragic exploitation and harm faced by young child prostitutes. Raising the age for homosexual consent, she argued, would send a detrimental message regarding the sexual availability of young women. Cleary's statements underscored a broader feminist critique of how discussions surrounding consent and sexual health often reflect deeper societal inequalities and patriarchal values, calling for a more equitable approach to the protection of all young people, regardless of gender.

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