Fran Wilde

In a recording from the Rainbow Room of the Parliament buildings in Wellington, New Zealand, captured on June 11, 2019, Fran Wilde presented a historical account of their experiences and challenges faced during the campaign for gay law reform in New Zealand. The discussion centers around the activist initiatives of the 2010s, highlighting Wilde's political journey and personal struggles in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.

Wilde was elected to the Wellington Central seat in 1981, becoming a member of the opposition under Prime Minister Muldoon's National Party. As a single parent of three, the presenter shared the unique challenges faced within the political sphere. Throughout the electoral campaign, Wilde was approached by members of the gay community inquiring about their stance on gay law reform. After the election, a group sought Wilde's support to introduce and campaign for a bill to prevent it from stalling in Parliament.

Wilde recounted the introduction of the initial Equality Bill, which failed to gain traction, followed by the introduction of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill post-1984 election, which comprised two parts—decriminalization and an amendment to the Human Rights Act. Wilde described the campaign as bitterly fought, extending beyond the Parliament to streets, workplaces, and communities. The petition presented during this period became infamously noted for allegations of fraudulent and coerced signatures.

The campaign faced significant opposition, including from fundamentalist Christians, who Wilde believed were supported by material and personnel from the United States. The campaigners argued for the education of the New Zealand public on the realities of being gay to gain support for the bill. Initially, support in Parliament was limited, with only 19 MPs reportedly committed to backing the bill.

Throughout the campaign, Wilde and others endured aggressive opposition, hate mail, and even death threats, requiring police intervention. Despite this, they also experienced support, such as an anonymous gift of spring bulbs. The speaker emphasized the bravery of gay men who publicly came out during the campaign, risking criminalization if the bill were to fail.

While the second part of the bill focused on human rights was voted down (later addressed by Catherine O'Regan), the decriminalization part passed, albeit not with an overwhelming majority. The success of the bill was in part attributed to tactical voting, as the age of consent remained at 16, despite pressure to increase it to 18.

The passage of the law marked a significant step for LGBTQ+ rights in New Zealand, achieving one of the primary goals of the campaign and avoiding a potential domino effect on progressive social legislation. Reflecting on the impact, Wilde expressed pride in their contribution to what they considered seminal legislation, impacting countless lives. The narrative ends by restating the importance of the bill and acknowledging the milestones achieved since its implementation.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Fran Wilde

2010s, parliament buildings, rainbow room

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