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Timeline: May

May 1972

  • The group Gay Liberation Front Auckland is formed (Auckland). The group is later renamed Gay Liberation Auckland Inc

May 1975

  • The Dorian Society Christchurch is formed (Christchurch)

May 1977

  • Lesbians picket Parliament for the repeal of abortion laws (Wellington)
  • The Lesbian Club ends (Wellington)

May 1979

  • The Nelson Gay Welfare group is formed (Nelson). Link: LAGANZ

May 1980

  • A group of gay men organise a National Offenders Day march to protest anti-gay laws in a carnival atmosphere (New Zealand). Lesbians dykecott the march saying it fails to challenge the status quo
  • New Zealand's first gay feature film Squeeze premieres (New Zealand). The film was originally titled Night Moves

May 1985

  • A street march takes place to support homosexual law reform (Wellington)

May 1987

  • Glad Rag magazine begins publication (Wellington)

May 1994

  • The first National Lesbian Studies Conference takes place (New Zealand)

May 1997

  • Patrick Clotworthy pleads guilty to assaulting Wayne Cowan in a side street off Karangahape Road (Auckland). Clotworthy stabbed Cowan six times in 1996 while shouting anti gay comments. He was initally sentenced to a 2 year suspended sentence but this was appealed by the Crown. In June 1998 his sentence was increased to 3 years imprisonment. Link: Sensible Sentencing Trust

May 1998

  • The Government announces a Human Rights Amendment that will prolong the Government's exemption from the Human Rights Commission Act indefinitely (New Zealand)

1 May 1912

1 May 1929

  • Expatriate Peter Stratford (a.k.a. Deresley Morton) dies (California, United States of America). A headline in NZ Truth reads "Death of masquerader reveals incredible deception". Link: Papers Past

1 May 1975

  • Television current affairs: interview with Carmen Rupe (Wellington). Rupe talks candidly about prostitution, homosexual law reform and reveals that there are both gay and bisexual Members of Parliament. She would later have to apologise to Parliament's Privileges Committee. Tonight at Nine, ref TZP4412. This item has been digitised and an online viewing copy can be requested from the archive. Link: TVNZ

1 May 1986

  • Newspaper report: Gay rights bogged down again in New Zealand (San Francisco, United States of America). Link: Bay Area Reporter

2 May 1898

  • Lawyer and social reformer Frank Haigh is born (Lower Hutt). Among other things Haigh was prominent in the cause of homosexual law reform. Link: Te Ara

2 May 1974

  • Television current affairs: should sex education be taught in schools (New Zealand). Nationwide, ref TZP121235. Link: TVNZ

2 May 1975

  • A Parliamentary Select Committee reports back on the Crimes Amendment Bill (New Zealand). The Committee recommends the age of consent be reduced from 21 to 20

2 May 1983

  • The first international AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held (San Francisco, United States of America). Memorials are held in San Francisco and New York. There was no memorial held in 1984

2 May 1985

  • Television news report: anti-reform petition presented to Parliament (New Zealand). ref: TZP134545. Opponents of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill allegedly present Parliament the largest petition ever in New Zealand. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
  • Television news report: petition against homosexual law reform (New Zealand). Features an interview with chief petitioner Keith Hay. 6.30 news Top Half, ref F80459. Links: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision, University of Auckland

2 May 2007

  • Broadcaster Henare te Ua dies (Auckland). Link: NZ Herald

2 May 2018

  • Former MP Katherine O'Regan dies (Waikato region). As Associate Minister of Health, O'Regan championed amendments to the Human Rights Act 1993 - outlawing discrimination on the grounds of disability, sexual orientation, and having organisms in the body which might cause disease. Link: Stuff

3 May 1921

  • George Rocake (a.k.a Winifred Wilson) appears in court charged with offensive behaviour (Sydney, Australia). Police had earlier raided Rocake's room and removed "female clothing, paints and powders". Link: Papers Past

3 May 1929

  • Former Mayor of Whanganui Charles Mackay is shot dead (Berlin, Germany). Mackay is killed by a policeman while covering a street battle as a journalist. Links: Papers Past, Te Ara

3 May 1976

  • Television feature: A Great Day by Frank Sargeson (New Zealand). Winners and Losers, ref TZD571. Link: TVNZ

4 May 1952

  • Politician Chris Carter is born (Auckland). Carter would later become the first openly gay Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Links: Wikipedia, Parliament

4 May 1997

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorials are held (New Zealand). The memorial is moved earlier in May this year to accommodate dates in the USA calendar (generally the memorial is held on the 3rd Sunday in May). Link: New Zealand AIDS Quilt

5 May 1971

  • Television current affairs: sex education (New Zealand). Survey, ref TZP74345. Link: TVNZ

6 May 1933

  • Members of the German Student Union attack the Institut fur Sexualwissenschaft (Institute of Sexology) (Berlin, Germany). The attack follows a two-month Nazi purge of gay clubs and the banning of gay groups and publications. Link: Wikipedia

6 May 1985

  • A lesbian and gay commemoration of the Holocaust is held on the steps of the National War Memorial (Wellington). Link: LAGANZ

6 May 1988

  • Television current affairs: Hepatitis B vaccine may contain HIV (New Zealand). Media commentator Brain Priestley reviews media coverage. Fourth Estate, ref F91240. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

7 May 1979

  • Television current affairs: women performing their own abortions (New Zealand). Interviewee Marilyn Waring. Dateline Monday, ref TZP1048. Link: TVNZ

7 May 1987

7 May 1997

  • The Intersex Society of New Zealand is launched (Wellington). The Society is launched by the Minister of Health Hon. Annette King at a function in the Council Chamber at Victoria University. The Society subsequently became a Charitable Trust on 26 March 1998. Link: ITANZ (pdf)

7 May 2004

  • Television news report: a number of health professionals in Libya deliberately infect children with HIV to try and find a cure (New Zealand). One news, ref F80929. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

7 May 2007

  • The Charlotte Museum Trust is registered as a trust (Auckland). Link: Charlotte Museum

7 May 2015

  • Composer Jack Body receives the Icon Award - the Arts Foundation of New Zealand's highest honour (Wellington). The ceremony takes place at Mary Potter Hospice. Body dies three days later after a long battle with cancer. Links: SOUNZ, Wikipedia

8 May 1985

8 May 1987

  • Television news report: AIDS in Africa is reaching epidemic levels (New Zealand). Eyewitness news, ref F92670. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

9 May 1929

  • The NZ Truth reports on a "man with female mentality" (Auckland). The news report documents the court case against Nikora Hune Haora. The prosecuting sub-inspector said to the court that Haora is actually wanting "an order to allow him to continue wearing female apparel". Link: Papers Past

9 May 1999

  • Teenager Jeff Whittington dies (Wellington). Whittington was murdered in Wellington by Jason Meads and Stephen Smith. Link: Wikipedia

10 May 1910

  • Composer Tuini Moetu Haangu Ngawai is born (Gisborne region). Link: Te Ara

10 May 1933

  • Mobs of Nazi supporters burn books, including those taken from the Institut fur Sexualwissenschaft (Institute of Sexology) (Germany). The burning of books happens throughout Germany. Most notable is the book burning by students in Berlin's Opernplatz of over 25,000 volumes. Links: Papers Past, Wikipedia

10 May 1983

  • Television news report: AIDS has reached Australia, and could arrive in New Zealand (New Zealand). ref: TZP19266. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
  • Television news report: urgent measures are being taken to keep AIDS out of New Zealand (New Zealand). ref: TZP15983. . Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

10 May 1985

  • Television news report: everyone in Queensland that has received a blood transfusion in the last two years will be screened for AIDS (New Zealand). 6.30 news Top Half, ref F81430. Links: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision, University of Auckland
  • Television: anti-homosexual law reform petition gains half a million signatures (New Zealand). ref: TZP135187. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

10 May 1991

  • Television news report: a Christchurch philanthropist offers refunds on empty packets of condoms (Christchurch). Michael Sherry wants to promote safe sex by offering refunds on empty packets of condoms. Nightline, ref F104366. Link: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

10 May 2008

  • The documentary Through Rainbow Coloured Glasses premieres (Christchurch). Link: Production website

10 May 2015

  • Composer Jack Body dies (Wellington). Link: Wikipedia

11 May 1964

  • The six teenagers accused of killing Charles Aberhart are all acquitted by a jury (Christchurch). Those acquitted were Zane Leslie McDonald, Anthony Dennis O'Connor, Frank Leicester Reynolds, Raymond Clive Neither, Brian Francis Johns and Roger Malcolm Williams. Links: Spinoff, GayNZ.net

11 May 1983

  • Television news report: An immunologist from Auckland explains the AIDS pandemic (New Zealand). ref: TZP115585. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

11 May 2019

  • The Wellington International Pride Parade takes place (Wellington). The parade was originally meant to take place on 16 March 2019, but after the Christchurch terror attacks on the 15th March, it was moved to 11 May. Links: PrideNZ, WIPP

12 May 1986

  • Television news report: launch of the book AIDS and the Risk by Paul Goldwater. (New Zealand). The publication is the first locally produced book on AIDS. Among other things, the book recommends that New Zealand should "exclude from all schools and educational facilities any child who is AIDS antibody positive." Eyewitness news, ref: F91729. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

12 May 2000

  • Television news report: cutting the price of AIDS drugs (New Zealand). BBC report, One news, ref F45802. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

12 May 2020

  • Restaurateur Leo Molloy's interview on Newstalk ZB sparks a complaint to the Human Rights Commission (New Zealand). Reacting to Molloy's comments, complainant Benjamin Blackwell gave his opinion to Stuff "I get as a bar owner this is probably a stressful time for him, but to use your business and personal platform to channel that anger and frustration by singling out the gay community – when there is no proof of a correlation between the spread of Covid-19 and the LGBT community - is homophobic. Pure and simple.". Link: Stuff

13 May 1947

  • Painter Frances Hodgkins dies (Dorset, United Kingdom). Hodgkins' ashes are returned to New Zealand and placed in the Field-Hodgkins family plot in the Waikanae cemetery near Wellington. Links: Te Ara, PrideNZ.com

13 May 1989

  • The Young Lesbian and Gay Festival is held in Newtown School Hall (Wellington)

14 May 1868

  • Physician and sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld is born Link: Wikipedia

14 May 1897

  • Magnus Hirschfeld founds the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee (Berlin, Germany). The Committee was formed to campaign for social recognition of gay, bisexual and transgender men and women, and against their legal persecution. It was the first LGBT rights organisation in history. Link: Wikipedia

14 May 1935

  • Physician and sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld dies (Nice, France). Hirschfeld dies of a heart attack on his 67th birthday. Link: Wikipedia

14 May 1979

  • Television feature: A Matter of Style - Quentin Crisp with Davina Whitehouse (New Zealand). Features footage of Crisp's visit to New Zealand in 1978, performing in Takapuna. Ref TZP97073. Link: TVNZ
  • Pink Triangle magazine begins (New Zealand). The magazine is produced by the National Gay Rights Coalition and is an important source of news and feature articles. The magazine is distributed nationally, with the first issue published on 14 May 1979. The magazine's last issue is September/October 1990. Link: Auckland Museum

14 May 1984

  • Television: Sociologist Rosemary Novitz interviewed about sex role stereotyping of children (New Zealand). ref: TZP21887. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

14 May 2012

15 May 1920

  • Charles Mackay shoots and wounds D'Arcy Cresswell (Whanganui). Mackay is the Mayor of Wanganui at the time. Links: GayNZ.net, Te Ara

15 May 1984

  • Television: Judith Carver of New Zealand Childcare Association interviewed about the sex role stereotyping of babies (New Zealand). ref: TZP21815. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

15 May 1989

  • Television news report: increase of AIDS cases in New Zealand (New Zealand). Eyewitness news, ref F96198. Link: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

15 May 2005

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held
  • Television news report: rates of AIDS rise in Africa (New Zealand). One news, ref F86464. Link: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

15 May 2011

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held

15 May 2016

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial services are held (New Zealand). Services are held in Auckland (6pm - St Matthews in the City), Hamilton (7pm - Lady Goodfellow Chapel) and Wellington (4pm - Tararua Tramping Club). Link: Body Positive

15 May 2017

  • Vicki Letele dies (Auckland). Letele, who was serving a prison term for fraud, was denied parole in October 2016, but was released on compassionate grounds in November 2016 to spend her final months with loved ones. Link: GayNZ

16 May 1984

  • Television: Judith Carver from New Zealand Childcare Association interviewed about sex role stereotyping in children (New Zealand). ref: TZP21816. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

16 May 1996

  • Sexual Healing? a documentary featuring former homosexual Noel Mosen is broadcast on TV One (New Zealand). A number of people complain to the Broadcasting Standards Authority about the content. The complaints are upheld in November 1996. Link: BSA

16 May 1999

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held (New Zealand)

16 May 2004

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held
  • Television news report: Solomon Islands expect a major increase in HIV diagnoses (New Zealand). The news comes after it was revealed that blood products hadn't been screened for the last four years. One news, ref F81625. Link: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

16 May 2010

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held

17 May 1915

  • Music teacher John Leslie Lander pleads guilty to committing an unnatural offence (Auckland). Lander was sentenced to life imprisonment, plus 10-years hard labour on a charge of indecent assault. He was imprisoned in New Plymouth Prison. Lander had earlier been the primary witness in the trial of bootmaker and vocalist Alexander Edward McGurk (34). He hadn't himself been charged until the NZ Truth began reporting on the incident. McGurk would later "peach" (inform) on Lander. Gordon James Cunninghame (18) would also testify. Lander was described by the NZ Truth as a dainty-looking "chappie" and the willing victim of the offence. Justice Chapman observed that "the prisoner was not a safe man to be at large in a free community." Lander would later die in jail. Links: Papers Past (1), Papers Past (2), Papers Past (3)

17 May 1976

  • Television current affairs: photographer Brian Brake (New Zealand). Today at One, ref TZP3332. Link: TVNZ

17 May 1984

17 May 1985

  • Television: Gay Task Force and Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC) are accidentally given space at Wellington Show (Wellington). ref: TZP8646. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

17 May 1987

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorials are held (New Zealand). The Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) notes that memorials are held in at least four cities in New Zealand. Link: Bay Area Reporter
  • AIDS: The New Lepers is broadcast on TV1 (New Zealand). The documentary is followed by a panel discussion with health professionals in New Zealand plus excerpts from Australian and British TV campaigns. Interviewees include Betty Kill, Warren Lindberg, Dr Rod Ellis-Pegler and Dr David Skegg. Ref F58399 and F92709. Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision (1), Nga Taonga Sound and Vision (2)

17 May 1992

  • The 9th annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held (New Zealand). Over 200 cities around the world participate, with New Zealand being the first country in the world to hold memorials. Link: Bay Area Reporter

17 May 1998

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held (New Zealand)

17 May 2009

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held

17 May 2015

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial services are held (New Zealand). Services are held in Auckland (6pm - St Matthews in the City), Hamilton (7pm - University of Waikato Chapel), Wellington (12pm - Te Papa), Christchurch (6pm - Richmond Neighbourhood Cottage) and Invercargill (2pm - Knox Church). Link: Body Positive

17 May 2017

  • Chelsea Manning is released from US military prison (United States of America). Manning, a former US military intelligence analyst, was released after serving seven years in a US military prison for passing on classified documents to WikiLeaks. Manning's 35-year sentence was commuted by President Obama just before he left office
  • The rainbow flag is flown at Parliament to mark IDAHOBIT (Wellington). The rainbow flag is flown for the second time at Parliament to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and Intersexphobia (the first time the flag flew was on 6 July 2016 to mark the 30th anniversary of Homosexual Law Reform)

17 May 2018

  • The Human Rights Commission joins with the Rainbow NZ Parliamentary Network to commit to twice-yearly community hui (New Zealand). Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue said "these hui will alternate between Auckland and Wellington every six months, providing a space for the community's voices to be heard by Rainbow leaders in Parliament.". Link: Human Rights Commission
  • The transgender, bisexual, intersex and rainbow flags are flown at Parliament (Wellington). The flags are flown to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). This is also the first time in the world where the intersex flag has been flown in front of the seat of government. Links: PrideNZ.com, Human Rights Commission, Stuff.co.nz

17 May 2019

  • The annual anti-bullying Pink Shirt Day and International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) are marked throughout the country (New Zealand)
  • The NZ AIDS Foundation rails against Israel Folau with the #unfolau social media campaign (New Zealand). The campaign coincides with the annual Pink Shirt Day and IDAHOBIT. The NZAF says on social media "Homophobic comments have real, harmful effects on us. If you support the rainbow community, share this and #UnFolau anyone who thinks homophobia is free speech. Anyone who wants to share their beliefs otherwise, there is a certain bigot we can think of that might care to listen. Your comments will be deleted as we will #UnFolau you." The campaign met with mixed reaction, with some users describing it as bullying itself. Link: Facebook

17 May 2020

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial services are held online (New Zealand). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, physical gatherings are cancelled and memorial services and messages are placed online. Link: Body Positive
  • International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is marked (New Zealand)

18 May 1859

  • Confidence trickster Amy Bock is born (Tasmania, Australia). Link: Te Ara

18 May 1972

  • Television news report: a petition to legalise brothels (New Zealand). Gallery, ref TZP80259. Link: TVNZ

18 May 1984

  • Television: discussion about sex role stereotyping by those involved with child development (New Zealand). ref: TZP21817. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

18 May 2003

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held

18 May 2008

  • 25th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held
  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held

18 May 2014

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial services are held (New Zealand). Services are held in Auckland (6pm - St Matthews in the City), Hamilton (7pm - Celebrating Age Centre), Wellington (2:30pm - Te Papa), Christchurch (6pm - NZAF Te Toka) and Invercargill (2:30pm - Knox Church). Link: Body Positive

18 May 2018

19 May 1983

  • Television: Dunedin blood bank, concerned about AIDS, asks male homosexuals not to donate blood (Dunedin). ref: TZP136258. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

19 May 1985

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorials are held (New Zealand). The memorial services are held annually on the third Sunday in May

19 May 1991

19 May 1995

  • The second National Lesbian Studies Conference takes place (Wellington). The conference takes place at the Student Union Building at Victoria University. It runs from the 19-21 May. One of the things to come out of the conference was the group Lesbians on the Land. Links: Queer History NZ, QNA

19 May 1996

  • The 13th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held (New Zealand). This year's theme is: AIDS discrimination is a global epidemic - together we can overcome it. Blocks of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt are displayed in New Plymouth, Wellington, Invercargill and Auckland. Events take place in Taranaki, Waikato, Canterbury, Wellington, Auckland and Nelson. Links: New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt, NZ.com

19 May 2002

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held

19 May 2019

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial services take place (New Zealand). Services are held at St Matthews in the City (Auckland), Lady Goodfellow Chapel (Hamilton) and at the Tararua Tramping Clubrooms (Wellington). The theme for this year is: reduce stigma, ensure access, increase resources, promote involvement. Link: Facebook

20 May 1863

  • Rev H M Turton is tried in the Supreme Court on a charge of sodomy (Nelson). One of Turton's servants had accused him of an incident in October 1862. The jury found Turton not guilty. Link: Papers Past

20 May 1973

  • Writer and poet Charles Brasch dies (New Zealand)

20 May 1985

  • Television news report: Government denies cancelling Homosexual Law Reform Bill committee meetings for political gain in Timaru (Timaru). ref: TZP17566. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
  • Television news report: the Government denies claims it has suspended submissions on homosexual law reform due to the Timaru by-election (New Zealand). 6.30 news Top Half, ref F81801. Links: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision, University of Auckland
  • Television: gay activists have created a new strategy for dealing with anti-gay lobbyists (New Zealand). ref: TZP13157. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

20 May 1990

  • A will making workshop for lesbians is held (Wellington)
  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorials are held (New Zealand)

20 May 1991

20 May 2001

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held

20 May 2007

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held (Wellington)

20 May 2012

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held

20 May 2017

  • The Topp Twins exhibtion shows at Te Manawa Musuem (Palmerston North). The exhibition, curated by Sian Torrington, runs from 20 May - 29 October 2017

20 May 2018

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial services are held (New Zealand). In Wellington a service is held at the Tararua Tramping Club and in Auckland a service is held at St Matthew in the City. Link: PrideNZ.com

21 May 1975

  • Parliament votes to have the Privileges Committee investigate Carmen Rupe's claim that there are gay and bisexual Members of Parliament (New Zealand). Link: Hansard

21 May 1984

  • Television: Sue Billing of the Family Planning Association interviewed about sex education for young children (New Zealand). ref: TZP21819. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

21 May 1985

  • A rally in support of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill is held (Wellington). The rally is held in Wellington Town Hall, starting at 8pm. The rally is billed as "entertainment, speakers, and lots of fun". Link: Te Papa
  • Television news report: MP Fran Wilde says supporters of homosexual law reform need to stand up (New Zealand). 6.30 news Top Half, ref F57631. Links: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision, University of Auckland
  • The pro-homosexual law reform Bigot Busters rally is held at the Wellington Town Hall (Wellington). Links: PrideNZ.com, LAGANZ

21 May 1989

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorials are held (New Zealand)

21 May 1990

  • An AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held in the foyer of the Beehive, Parliament (Wellington). The service features Sir Paul Reeves - the first patron of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, MP Fran Wilde, plus five panels of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt

21 May 1995

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorials are held (New Zealand). This is the 12th anniversary of international memorials. In Auckland, five blocks of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt are carried from St Matthew-in-the-city to Aotea Square where a Beacons of Hope service is held. Link: New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt

21 May 2000

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held

21 May 2006

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is held

21 May 2017

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial service is held at St Matthew-in-the-City (Auckland). This is one of only two memorial services held in New Zealand
  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial service is held at Tararua Tramping Club (Wellington). This is one of only two memorial services held in New Zealand. Link: PrideNZ

22 May 1984

  • Television: Sue Billing of the Family Planning Association interviewed about sex education for young children (New Zealand). ref: TZP21820. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
  • The New South Wales government votes to decriminalise male homosexual acts (New South Wales, Australia). The age of consent is set at 18 (it is 16 for heterosexual and lesbian couples). The law is enacted on 8 June 1984. Link: Wikipedia

22 May 1985

  • Television news report: the Human Rights Commission supports homosexual law reform (New Zealand). 6.30 news Top Half, ref F81812. Links: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision, University of Auckland
  • The Human Rights Commission comes out in support of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill (New Zealand)

22 May 1994

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorial services are held (New Zealand). A memorial service is held at St Matthew-in-the-City in Auckland. Following the service the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt is carried outspread in a candlelit parade via Hobson and Wellesley Streets to Aotea Square. Link: New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt

23 May 1924

  • A parliamentary inquiry begins into Mental Defectives and Sexual Offenders (Wellington). Link: Parliamentary Papers

23 May 1984

  • Television: Sue Billing of the Family Planning Association interviewed about sex education for young children (New Zealand). ref: TZP87559. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

23 May 1993

  • Beacons of Hope is held at Frank Kitts Park (Wellington). Beacons of Hope is held as part of the 10th International AIDS Memorial commemorations. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Wellington members of the New Zealand Youth Choir perform at Frank Kitts Park. The event begins at 7pm and includes people carrying flaming torches representing those that have passed away. Links: Archives New Zealand, New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt

23 May 2017

  • Butch: a photographic exploration by Rachel Hoskin exhibits at Te Manawa Musuem (Palmerston North). The exhibition runs from 23 May - 18 June 2017

24 May 1985

  • A march in support of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill takes place (Wellington). People are asked to assemble in Bunny Street at 6.30pm. Link: Te Papa
  • A rally in support of homosexual law reform is held in the Auckland Town Hall (Auckland). The event is emceed by a Topp Twin and features music, dance and speeches
  • Dr David Cooper is interviewed about how homosexual law reform may impact the spread of AIDS (New Zealand). The interview is broadcast on Eyewitness News, TV1
  • Private video: a recording of a public rally in support of homosexual law reform (Auckland). The rally took place in the Auckland Town Hall and was emceed by one of the Topp Twins, ref F55516. Link: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision
  • Television current affairs: Alison Webber comments on homosexual law reform (New Zealand). Fourth Estate, ref F57634. Links: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision, University of Auckland
  • Television news report: Doctor David Cooper interviewed about AIDS (New Zealand). ref: TZP137344. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
  • Television news report: protest march in support of Homosexual Law Reform Bill in Wellington (Wellington). ref: TZP12496. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
  • Television news reports: public rallies on homosexual law reform and the effect of AIDS on law reform (New Zealand). Features an interview with Dr David Cooper. Eyewitness news, ref F81839. Links: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision, University of Auckland

25 May 1971

  • Television news report: a bust of Frank Sargeson is unveiled in Takapuna (Auckland). Ref TZP144400. Link: TVNZ
  • The Labour Party annual conference votes favour of homosexual law reform (New Zealand). The conference voted in favour of homosexual acts between consenting males in private be legalised. The vote was so close that a count had to be taken

25 May 1984

  • Television: various community members discussing who should teach sex education to children (New Zealand). ref: TZP87560. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

25 May 1985

25 May 1991

  • Television news report: unexpected consequences after actor plays the part of a man with AIDS (New Zealand). Actor Patrick Davies' friends and family thought he had AIDS after media reports about the theatre production. One Network News, ref F104476. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

25 May 2001

  • The seventh annual Out Takes film festival takes place (New Zealand). The festival runs in multiple centres: Auckand 25 May - 5 June, Wellington 31 May - 10 June, Dunedin 16 - 17 June, Christchurch 22 - 24 June. Link: Out Takes

26 May 1895

  • Oscar Wilde is convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years hard labour (London, United Kingdom). Links: Papers Past, Wikipedia

26 May 1917

26 May 1985

  • The media reports claims that Gay visibility week has resulted in harassment (New Zealand)

26 May 1986

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorials are held (New Zealand). Link: Bay Area Reporter

26 May 1995

  • Poor Superman by Brad Fraser opens at Circa Theatre (Wellington). Link: National Library

26 May 1997

  • Bryan James Gardner is sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering David Shore in November 1996 (Christchurch). Gardner tried unsuccessfully to use the homosexual panic defence. Link: Sensible Sentencing Trust

27 May 1920

  • Charles Mackay is sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the attempted murder of D'Arcy Cresswell (Whanganui). Mackay had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge. In the hope of mitigating Mackay's sentence, his defense lawyer pointed to how Mackay had been suffering from homo-sexual monomania for a number of years. Link: Papers Past

27 May 1986

  • Television talkback: Dr. Paul Goldwater discusses AIDS with talkback callers (New Zealand). Newsline, ref F91769. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

28 May 1985

  • Television news report: New Zealand Democratic Party allegedly running a lesbophobic and sexist smear campaign against women Members of Parliament (New Zealand). ref: TZP12195. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

28 May 2006

  • Television news report: the origins of AIDS (New Zealand). A news report that says HIV originally came from chimps. One news, ref F93327. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

29 May 2017

  • Data released today shows that 244 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2016 in New Zealand (New Zealand). The data from the AIDS Epidemiology Group showed that in 2016, 217 men and 27 women were diagnosed HIV+, the highest numbers ever recorded in New Zealand. Link: RNZ

30 May 1985

  • Television news report: National Party leader Jim McLay claims that his Birkenhead electorate backs his opposition to Homosexual Law Reform Bill (Auckland region). ref: TZP13827. Link: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision

30 May 1988

  • International AIDS Candlelight Memorials are held (New Zealand). Link: Bay Area Reporter

30 May 1996

  • The High Court rules that marriage in common law means between a man and woman (New Zealand)

30 May 2019

  • Minister of Finance Grant Robert delivers the Budget which includes $3 million dollars for gender affirmation surgeries (New Zealand). The Government commits $750,000 every year for the next four years for the surgeries. Link: Facebook

31 May 1975

  • Television comedy: a skit sending up Patricia Bartlett (New Zealand). Dean on Saturday, ref TZP6108. Link: TVNZ

31 May 2017

  • GayNZ.com ends (New Zealand). Based in Auckland, GayNZ.com was a daily news and features website. It also had forums, an event calendar, scene photographs, business listings and personal ads. Many of the articles have been archived online by multiple sites. A new website with the same name was launched in 2019. Link: PrideNZ.com
URL:http://www.pridenz.com/timeline/may.html