‘Gay’ Rights Bill Opponent Served With Writ (Press, 29 March 1986)
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Summary: ‘Gay’ Rights Bill Opponent Served With Writ (Press, 29 March 1986)
On 27 March 1986, Graeme Lee, Member of Parliament for Hauraki and a prominent opponent of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, announced that he had been served with a High Court writ seeking $600,000 in damages for defamation. This writ was filed by Lawrence Publishing Company and is related to a statement made by Lee at a meeting in April 1985. He noted that this was the fourth writ he had received concerning the same statement, which had previously prompted an apology that was not accepted. The three earlier writs sought damages exceeding $500,000 and were still pending in court. The most recent writ was dated 23 December 1985 and was served to him outside Parliament Grounds.
The context of this legal action comes after the passage of part one of the controversial bill through the committee stage in Parliament, which occurred on the evening prior, resulting in a close division of 41 votes in favour to 36 against. Part one of the bill aims to decriminalise sexual activity between consenting males aged over 16, while part two seeks to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, which has not yet reached the committee stage.
In response to the progress of the bill, the Women's Electoral Lobby expressed their strong approval. Elspeth Preddy, the coordinator of the group's Wellington branch, shared that they were "absolutely thrilled" by the advancement of the age of consent provision, describing the previous laws as outdated "Victorian law" that were unsuitable for the South Pacific region. The lobby members have actively supported the bill over the past year and expressed pride in the efforts of Fran Wilde, the Member of Parliament for Wellington Central, in championing human rights legislation.
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