Gay Pride Week was held in New Zealand during the week June 24-30. It is in part a commemoration of the Stonewall riots on June 29, 1969 in New York. In the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village homosexuals decided to fight back during a regular police raid which was allegedly made to check an "infringement" of the liquor laws. On this particular evening the clientele decided that the true reason lay elsewhere, i.e. that it was because Stonewall Inn was a well known homosexual dance bar. Tired of what they viewed as a form of social oppression, they resorted to physical resistance. Thus began the gay liberation movement and groups sprang up all over the United States.

New Zealand has gay liberation movements in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch most of which were founded in 1970. They also have chosen this week as an opportunity to increase self-awareness and more importantly, public awareness. In Wellington the programme was arranged mainly by the Wellington Gay Liberation Front with invaluable assistance from the Psychology Department, the Homosexual Law Reform Society and various individuals.

Gay Pride Week in Wellington began on the Tuesday when a table was set up in the foyer of the Student Union Building offering both free pamphlets and other moderately priced literature. A background board displayed articles, pamphlets etc about homsexuality.

Sidelong Glances

Reactions to both the table and the board were very interesting and probably showed attitudes towards homosexuality. Most students passing by gave a sidelong glance to? see what it was all about, blushed, then hurried past. Some bolder individuals clutched tightly to a friend of the opposite sex — almost to the point of crushing him or her — then very bravely strolled up to have a closer look. The majority of those who felt free to look and perhaps purchase, were persons prepared to be blatant about their own homosexuality or a few rare liberated heterosexuals. Despite the trepidation with which the majority of students obviously regarded the table, a small profit was made on sales.

To members of the recently inaugurated Gay Liberation (VUW), the differing response to the board once the table and those manning it were removed, was indeed significant. Our "splurge" remained right through Tuesday and Wednesday. Without the presence of any people presumed gay because they were sitting behind "that table", others felt free to have a browse. One of our number who passed several times on Wednesday observed something like a dozen people grouped round it each time.

The next event was on the Wednesday, when the Psychology Society devoted their lunchtime forum to the topic of homosexuality. Here the response was overwhelming, the smoking room being overcrowded to the extent that even floor space ran out. The speakers included Professor Taylor; Chris Parkin; the President of the Wellington Gay Liberation Front; Paul Kells and Mr S.W. Ransom.

Professor Taylor, having been requested to centre his address around the "causes" of homosexuality, expressed a reluctance to do so. To look at the "causes" of homosexuality he pointed out, carries with it the implication that homosexuality is an illness, a "condition" which can be "cured". His belief along with many others currently involved in research, is that it is neither necessary nor desirable to attempt a "cure".

Meanwhile the question of social justice continues to be ignored. Gay people are still treated unjustly — socially, legally, even psychologically. The Wolfenden Report published in Britain in 1957 opened the way for changes in that "abominable crime not to be known to Christians": ten years later Britain amended its law bringing it into line with the majority of countries where private sexual behaviour of consenting adults is not subject to criminal law. But here and even in Britain social injustice is still prevalent.

Q: Why Do We Do It?

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.

Police Harrassment

The air was growing yet thinner. Paul Kells of the NZUSA rose to speak on the topics of oppression and discrimination. Both go further than the legal aspect: we gays are subject to police harrassment, discrimination from employers, landlords, medical and religious sources, assault even blackmail. For this there is no logical page 7 basis. Some gays fearful of their homosexual tendencies seek to suppress them, frequently resulting in severe psychological conflict. "Oppression," he continued, "is merely a political and economic expedient. To end oppression not only is a law reform necessary but also a total change in society's attitudes."

Here the president of the Wellington Gay Liberation Front spoke briefly on the functions of this organisation. The Wellington Gay Liberation Front, founded last year, has three basic areas of activity: functions, such as dances, parties very informal; Sunday afternoon discussion; wine and cheese evenings which are held to provide a meeting ground for homsexuals and often the invitation is extended to others as well; the welfare cell is responsible for the Gay Aid telephone service which has been extensively used since its inauguration; finally there is a publicity/education cell working to keep Gay Lib members informed as to what is happening within the movement and along with the university movement seeking to "infiltrate society".

Objectives

Mr Parkin concluded by pointing out that churches and churchmen have more recently been leaders in seeking amelioration of the homosexual dilemma. For example in NZ the 1961 Methodist Conference called for reform — this being six years before the first submission was made to Parliament.

On Thursday from 12.30—1.30 the same venue was used for the inaugural meeting of Gay Liberation (VUW). A president, secretary, and treasurer were elected, and the group settled down to decide its main objectives. More details of this later — however those present decided that Gay Lib (VUW) should be politically orientated — a movement which will move out and educate the public thereby hopefully initiating a change in social attitudes. One observation — surely there are more than one or two female homosexuals (or lesbians) on campus? Is this university movement to be very male dominated? It is great that several feminists have decided to join us in our cause but support from more lesbians would also be welcome.

The concluding event of Gay Pride Week was a wine and cheese evening held in our now well-established den — the smoking room. It was once again a "squash-in", which made it all the more enjoyable for our mixed population of heterosexuals and homosexuals.

So that was Gay Pride Week in Wellington. A little too introverted and directed too much at a university population perhaps. Hopefully next year some of you will assist in reaching out to the public, letting them know homosexuals do exist and can no longer tolerate being ignored, oppressed and discriminated against.

Labelled "Queer"

As for this year some interesting observation have been made. Only if people were not in danger of being labelled "queer" were they prepared to participate. Hence the acceleration of pedestrian traffic through the foyer during the time the table was manned. The Psychology Society lunchtime forums being an established 'happening", people felt free to attend without being labelled one of us. Perhaps it is a mere myth that university students are radical, tolerant, engineers of social change. Or more probably, even students do not feel free to assist in fighting for an end to homosexual oppression lest they themselves be put in that dreadful category. Gay Liberation (VUW) is not intended to be exclusively for gays. We need all the support which you are prepared to give us.

Our objectives are these: a) To campaign for a new social environment where homosexuals have an equal status with heterosexuals as guaranteed in the United Nations Charter. b) To campaign to end all discrimination in law and in society against homosexuals, c) To continually press for reform of legislation to achieve the above objects.

Myths and Ignorance

Regular lunchtime meetings are intended. Already we have pooled resources with the Wellington Gay Liberation Front's Publicity and Education Cell. Fortnightly meetings are held at which a previously assigned subject is discussed. One individual volunteers to prepare a paper which serves as a basis for discussion, all members are requested tor read about the topic.

The purpose of this is simple we are concerned to educate ourselves so that we may in turn educate society. Gay people are tired of the myths and ignorance surrounding homosexuality. Above all Gay Lib wishes to present a responsible and informed image to those whom it goes out to meet — not simply a "this has happened to me or my friends" story. Objectivity is important.

Incidentally it may be of interest to note that according to Kinsey's figures, of all the males enrolled at Victoria; 160 will be exclusive homosexuals for their entire life; 320 will be exclusive for at least three years between 16—55 years; 400 will be predominately homo sexual for at least three years between 16—55 years of age, 520 will have more homosexual than heterosexual behaviour for at least three years between 16—55 years of age; 720 will have an equal proportion of homosexual and heterosexual behaviour for three years between 16-55 years; 1000 will have more than incidental homosexual experience or reaction over a similar three year period; 1200 will have incidental homosexual experience or reaction over a similar three year period; 2000 (i.e. only 50%) will never experience emotional or physical homosexual behaviour.

Unfortunately a similar estimate has not been prepared for women students.

Don't hide away if you are gay. Don't ignore our oppression if you are straight. For any person interested in learning more about Gay Liberation (VUW) telephone any one of the following persons: Rae: 555-292 p.m. onwards. Keep trying or leave a contact number. Robert: 40—475. Michael: 49—468. Now you are aware to some extent of what Gay Pride Week and Gay Liberation are about, please join us if you feel able!