Changing Attitudes

Professor Taylor mentioned some psychological factors which have been advanced to 'explain' the homosexual condition, concluding that these were largely irrelevant — the homosexual should no longer be deprived of social and legal justice.

Bodies still crammed tightly together, Mr Ransom — representing the NZ Homosexual Law Reform Society — took the floor. His talk centred around the attempts to introduce law reform in New Zealand which organizations, churches etc support; results of a NZ survey published in the Sunday News; law reform overseas; and the changing attitudes within schools at a senior level and the police force both of whom request speakers from the NZHLRS.

Support it appears is quite considerable. Presbyterian and Methodist churches, Society of Friends, Associated Churches of Christ, some Anglican diosceses are all favourable. As far as the secular scene is concerned further support comes from the Jaycees, National Council of Women, the Howard League for Penal Reform, NZUSA, and the Council for Civil Liberties.

Other sources of support: magazines such as Thursday and the NZ Women's Weekly are sympathetic; the Auckland press and local papers are helping us come out of hiding and the national conferences of both the Labour and National parties voted in favour of this long overdue reform. We are slow in joining the trend. In recent years 26 countries and eight states of the USA have amended their laws to allow homosexual acts between consenting adults.

There is hope! A bill is being drafted, submissions prepared, with the probability of it being a Private Member's bill with a free vote.