Students’ Moves On ‘gays’ Fail (Press, 17 July 1986)

On 17 July 1986, a motion at the University of Otago's Student Representative Council to appoint homosexual and lesbian rights officers was defeated after a vote of 170 to 141. This meeting saw a significant turnout, likely due to the contentious nature of the motion. The proposed positions were to be filled by a "gay" man and a lesbian woman, emphasising the need for representation of LGBTQ+ rights within the university. Mr Paul Kinder, the president of the Gay University Students' Society, expressed disappointment over the defeat of the motion. He highlighted that the recent passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill had created a more equal legal framework for sexual activities between homosexuals and heterosexuals. However, Kinder pointed out that discrimination based on sexual orientation remained legal in various areas, including housing, employment, and the provision of goods and services. He stressed the necessity of having dedicated rights officers to promote and protect the human rights of gay and lesbian individuals. Despite the failure of the original motion, there is an indication of ongoing interest in LGBTQ+ representation, as another motion has already been proposed for consideration at the next council meeting scheduled in a fortnight. The new proposal calls for the appointment of a general male officer and a "decent Kiwi joker" officer, suggesting a more informal approach to the council’s leadership structure. The ongoing discussions reflect the broader societal conversations around LGBTQ+ rights and representation during this period in New Zealand.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand