‘Gay’ Group Declines Meeting (Press, 14 October 1987)

Wellington, New Zealand, will not host the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) conference in 1988 due to concerns over the potential attendance of the Gay Association of South Africa. A spokesman for the New Zealand Gay Task Force, Mr Bill Logan, stated that while the invitation to host the event was extended to New Zealand at the previous annual conference, the task force decided to decline the offer.

The decision was largely motivated by the implications of having a South African organisation present, which Mr Logan described as a "grave insult" to both Māori people and black gays in South Africa. He emphasised that welcoming the South African group would contradict the international campaign for human rights in South Africa, particularly given the apartheid context of the time.

Logan also expressed that this situation could potentially fracture the homosexual and lesbian movement in New Zealand, asserting that a unified stance against oppression was crucial. "The vast majority of the gay and lesbian movement understand the need for all oppressed groups to stand together against oppression," he remarked.

The decision reflects a broader concern within the LGBTQ+ community about international solidarity and the intersections of race, sexuality, and human rights, illustrating the complexities involved in organising events that involve diverse participants from different geopolitical backgrounds.

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