Women and Lesbianism

by Leonie Morris and Lindy Cassidy

'Lesbianism is the vanguard of feminism', 'Lesbians have the right to their own children',—these were some of the issues raised in the workshop of 'Women and Lesbianism'. Our group was composed of a substantial number of articulate lesbians, some sympathetic straights and some (perhaps from the Hawkes Bay National Council of Churches) who were prepared to question but who had already made up their minds about the answers.

Discussion centred round lesbians as mothers—never in New Zealand has there been a case where a lesbian mother has been awarded custody of her children (even if it means the children must enter a welfare institution.) Personal cases were cited and obviously well-adjusted human relationships existed among the lesbian couples. Also prominent in the discussion was Wall's amendment—for the first time in New Zealand history, lesbians were being legislatively threatened (as if social pressure wasn't enough).

Recommendations included strong objection to Wall's Amendment and the need for education about lesbians and their problems to combat tear and ignorance.