Nervousness About ‘gay’ Bill Amendments (Press, 2 July 1986)

On 2 July 1986, the ongoing debate over the Homosexual Law Reform Bill in Wellington took a new turn as supporters expressed concerns over a potential compromise amendment. This amendment, proposed by Labour MP Dr Bill Sutton from Hawke's Bay, suggested maintaining the age of consent at 16 for most sexual activities but increasing it to 18 for anal sex, a provision that would also apply to heterosexual encounters. The proximity of the vote highlighted the stakes involved, leading to increased anxiety among proponents of the bill. Bill Logan from the Gay Task Force spoke out against Sutton’s amendment, arguing that it would weaken the already compromised legislation. This was particularly in regard to the earlier defeat of provisions aimed at preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation. Logan expressed his frustration, pointing out that basic rights—such as the ability to work, find housing, and access goods and services—were still being denied, yet Parliament members were suggesting further compromises. He described the interest in such amendments as an "unnatural" focus that perpetuated negative portrayals of being gay. Alongside Sutton, National MP Philip Burdon was also expected to propose an amendment aiming to raise the age of consent to 19, which Logan believed would garner support from a significant number of National Party members. He estimated that Burdon had backing from 10 to 12 of his colleagues, many of whom might opt for a vote in favour of the original proposal of 16 if the 19 amendment failed. Ms Fran Wilde, the sponsor of the bill, relayed that her assessments indicated that Dr Sutton's amendment perhaps had more backing than Burdon's proposal. Despite acknowledging that the different age of consent for anal sex would likely be unenforceable, she noted that legal distinctions of this nature did not prevent harassment from occurring. The debate surrounding these proposed amendments highlighted the deeply divided opinions on the bill, which centred around the age of consent set at 16. The proposed changes, even if they received limited backing, could significantly influence the final outcome of the voting process, underscoring the sensitive and contentious nature of the discussions surrounding the Homosexual Law Reform Bill in New Zealand at that time.

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