Unsafe Sex Without Warning (Press, 19 January 1989)
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Summary: Unsafe Sex Without Warning (Press, 19 January 1989)
On 19 January 1989, a report emerged from Wellington regarding the limitations faced by the Video Recordings Board in New Zealand. The board, chaired by Ms Brenda Cutress, stated that it could not mandate a warning about unsafe sexual practices to accompany a video showcasing explicit homosexual sexual content. According to Ms Cutress, the board's authority was restricted to requiring deletions from a video rather than imposing additional warnings, highlighting a significant shortcoming in the Video Recordings Act. In its review of the video titled "Cousins," the board reached a unanimous decision to classify it as indecent for individuals under the age of 18, labelling it as containing explicit sexual material. However, the board expressed its disappointment over the absence of a warning that the video depicted unsafe sexual behaviours and suggested that condom use should be advocated in such contexts. The board assessed the video to have no artistic, social, or cultural value, stating it consisted merely of a disjointed series of explicit homosexual acts without any coherent storyline. Ms Cutress pointed out that, in accordance with the act, the board was unable to classify the video as indecent enough to warrant a ban. Furthermore, the legislation did not include provisions for evaluating public health implications associated with the content of the video. In reaction to the board's inability to take more stringent action, Miss Patricia Bartlett, secretary of the Society for Community Standards, voiced her disgust that the video remained unbanned, reflecting concerns over its potential influence on viewers. This situation underscored ongoing debates regarding censorship, public health, and the responsibilities of regulatory bodies in relation to explicit sexual content.
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