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

Open letter to Mr Kirk

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Open letter to Mr Kirk

Dear

Mr Kirk,

I am writing to you as a concerned individual who is very involved in the Gey Liberation movement, it is my intention to forward copies of this letter to every major newspaper and all university papers in New Zealand.

This letter is in response to recent statements you have made concerning liberalisation of homosexual legislation, particularly comments ascribed to you in a report published in 'The Dominion' (July 9, 1974).

According to this report, you have inferred that the Gay Liberation movement exhibits anti-social rather than socially-concerned attitudes. I demand that you substantiate your inference or, if this is not possible, publicly apologise to members of the movement.

Perhaps you consider that the recent picketing of parliament was an anti-social act. Surely the right to protest is well established? Along with other persons concerned with social issues, gay people in New Zealand are incensed by Government inaction, To impede the individual's right to register his/her lack of confidence is more akin to communism than socialism or democracy.

In fact a great many gay people are deeply concerned with social reform that extends far beyond the confines of homosexual law liberalisation and related areas. I believe that your own ill-informed statements are inimical to socially concerned attitudes.

You are reported as having stated that you would not vote for legislation that treated homosexuality as "normal behaviour", As Prime Minister, Mr Kirk, you have an obligation to express yourself more precisely. If you are under the misapprehension that homosexuality constitutes a mental disease, then you ought to be made aware of the official attitudes of a number of informed groups. Official opinions of the American Association of Psychiatrists, the British Medical Association, the Australian Psychological Society, and the Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists are that homosexuality is not a psychiatric disease. In its remit, the Australian Psychological Society further elaborated that:
1)The Australian Psychological Society condemns discrimination against homosexuals.
2)That the APS condemns community attitudes which discriminate against homosexual behaviour between consenting adults.
3)That the APS affirms that it supports my moves to counter discrimination against homosexuals.

A similar remit was passed in 1973 by the Federal Council of the ANZCP.

As far as religious attitudes are concerned, you are no doubt aware that the majority of New Zealand churches favour liberalisation of homosexual legislation.

Obviously the words "normal behaviour" were ill-chosen, In any case your statements can be shown to have no rational basis.

Once again I shall remind you, that whilst you may regard a bill seeking homosexual law liberalisation to be damaging to party unity, you have certainly lost the votes of 10% of the voting public (i.e. those who are predominately homosexual in orientation) along with those of many other socially-concerned individuals. We will not support a government which refuses to treat us as people.

Yours sincerely,

Raeone Dellaca (Ms)

President, Gay Liberation (VUW)

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