Close Vote Likely For ‘gay’ Bill (Press, 2 April 1986)
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Summary: Close Vote Likely For ‘gay’ Bill (Press, 2 April 1986)
The Homosexual Law Reform Bill is currently in a critical phase as it approaches its third reading in Parliament. The fate of the bill, which aims to legalise homosexuality at the age of 16, hangs in the balance with no clear predictions regarding the outcome. Recently, the first part of the legislation was passed with a narrow margin of five votes, but the vote might have turned had the 16 absent members of Parliament been present. Graeme Lee, a prominent opponent of the reform, suggested that his side could have secured a majority if those absent had been there, predicting a vote of 47 against to 46 in favour of the bill. Attempts to amend the age of consent upward to 18 or 20 have been unsuccessful, limiting potential compromises. The dynamics of support for the bill appear to be shifting, evidenced by the patterns in voting, which show decreasing backing among members. Activists are now actively lobbying 11 MPs who previously opposed the bill but might be swayed, including members from both the Labour and National parties. Bill Logan, of the Gay Task Force, expressed optimism that a narrow win for the legalisation of homosexuality at 16 is possible, though it would not be as close as the last vote. Fran Wilde, the bill’s sponsor, is more cautious and does not wish to speculate on the outcome, acknowledging that the vote will likely be very tight. Among the 11 targeted MPs for support, some have shown a tendency to shift their positions in favour of lowering the age of consent, but uncertainty remains regarding their commitment. The second part of the bill, which aims to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, may prove more contentious. Graeme Lee believes that how this section is handled will be pivotal for the bill's overall success, noting that potential amendments to exclude certain services from compliance could influence opinions. As the legislation proceeds to its third reading—a stage generally seen as a formality—the intensity of the vote may reflect the divisions within Parliament more acutely than in previous stages. It is unclear when the third reading will take place, with estimates pointing to dates around 16 or 23 April 1986. The result will have significant implications for civil rights and societal attitudes towards homosexuality in New Zealand.
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