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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol. 37, No. 17. July 17, 1974

Gays reply to Rob

page 5

Gays reply to Rob

On a Radio Windy talk-back programme on Monday last week, Mr Muldoon called the Gay Liberationists 'exhibitionists', adding that he would not take the movement seriously. He claimed that through demonstrations, presumably referring to the recent picketing of Parliament, the movement is harming the cause of homosexual law reform. "Homosexuals should not be parading the streets," said Mr Muldoon, drawing a comparison with a parade of one-legged men. The opposition leader contradicted himself by stating that the homosexual "is not a very happy person" and "is not in essence a normal person", then saying a little later, "What I want to see them doing is being treated as normal individuals."

Mr Talboys accompanying Mr Muldoon on the programme, expressed concern that Gay Liberationists have been speaking to Liberal Studies groups in High Schools. He feels that movement members express their views in a manner designed to engender sympathy and to "encourage young people to express themselves in the same way."

Gay Liberation challenges the statements of both Mr Muldoon and Mr Talboys. The opposition leader's opinion that homosexuals are not happy people is not substantiated by recent research nor does recent medical opinion treat homosexuality as a mental disorder.

Why should Mr Muldoon object to homosexuals holding public demonstrations? He does not seem to hold in such distaste recent demonstrations by other pressure groups—dental nurses, kindergarten teachers, Labour Party women, Labour Youth, pensioners, etc. In fact there has been only one instance of a public picket by Gay Liberation in Wellington, and some half of the demonstrators were from supporting organisations. This action is more than counter-balanced by public teach-ins, addresses, and other political/educative activities.

Unfortunately there have been few instances of Gay Liberationists addressing Liberal Studies groups in secondary schools. In each instance it is by invitation only with absolutely no attempt being made to 'convert' students. We challenge Mr Talboys to substantiate this claim.

The Gay Liberation movement has been forced to become outspoken in an effort to counter-balance ill-informed attitudes and statements made by prominent persons, and also to fight against inhumane treatment of homosexual persons as exemplified in the existence of anti-homosexual legislation. If Mr Muldoon really wishes for homosexuals to be treated as 'normal individuals' then he should be concerned with repealing and revising existing legislation so that homosexuals and partners in stable homosexual relationships are treated by the law in precisely the same manner as heterosexually oriented persons.