Activists, Allies and Beyond: 40 Years Since Homosexual Law Reform

The recording Activists, Allies and Beyond: 40 Years Since Homosexual Law Reform documents a public event held at Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, Wellington Central Library, on 14 June 2026, marking forty years since the passing of homosexual law reform in Aotearoa New Zealand. Hosted by Wellington City Libraries, the event brings together activists, allies, historians and community members to reflect on the long struggle for decriminalisation, the 1985–1986 campaign, and the continuing relevance of rainbow human rights.

After an opening welcome, Gareth Watkins introduces the panel and acknowledges the importance of those who fought for change. He places homosexual law reform within a longer history, beginning with the adoption of British law in 1840, which criminalised homosexual activity. He notes how the law became harsher in the 1890s, before organised reform efforts emerged through the Dorian Society in the 1960s, gay liberation in the 1970s, and parliamentary attempts in 1974 and 1979. The successful bill, introduced by Labour MP Fran Wilde in 1985, sought both to decriminalise consensual sex between men and to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.

Bill Logan recalls encountering law reform ideas as a student in the 1960s, but says fear prevented him from becoming publicly involved at that time. By the early 1980s he was running a communist bookshop in Wellington, working on Gay Switchboard and AIDS-related organising, and helping arrange meetings between Fran Wilde and gay and lesbian constituents. Logan describes life before law reform as deeply deforming, marked by fear, secrecy, self-loathing and the constant risk that being openly gay could damage careers, family relationships and personal safety.

Linda Evans speaks from the perspective of lesbian feminism, women’s liberation and broader social justice movements. She connects homosexual law reform with struggles against sexism, compulsory heterosexuality, the Vietnam War, apartheid and attacks on civil liberties. Evans recalls the 1974 Crimes Amendment Bill introduced by Venn Young, and the threat of Gerald Wall’s proposed amendment, which would have outlawed positive information about homosexuality for people under twenty. For Evans, lesbians were deeply affected by male homosexuality being criminalised, even though they were not prosecuted under the same law. Discrimination, loss of child custody, mental health treatment, employment barriers and social stigma all made law reform vital.

Trevor Mallard reflects on entering Parliament as a young, straight Labour MP who was closely aligned with Fran Wilde. He describes the legislation as extremely unpopular, rarely polling above thirty percent support, and recalls the abuse directed at supportive MPs and their families. His role was to track where MPs stood, identify undecided votes, and help navigate the parliamentary process. Mallard explains the tactical decision to keep the age of consent at sixteen, even though many MPs would have preferred eighteen or twenty, because equality was central to the bill’s purpose.

Onjei Bond offers a younger perspective, explaining that he first learnt about homosexual law reform through queer history research and archival work in Taranaki. Bond discusses New Plymouth Men’s Prison, where men convicted under laws against male homosexual activity were sent from around the country. He sees significance in the fact that the first parliamentary attempt at reform came from Venn Young, the National MP for Egmont, in the same region where many men had been imprisoned. For Bond, learning about homosexual law reform shows that activism can overturn systems that appear permanent.

The discussion explores campaign tactics, including public meetings, newspaper advertisements, leafleting, pickets, lobbying and confrontations with anti-reform figures such as Norman Jones and Geoff Braybrooke. Bill Logan recounts a dramatic Lower Hutt meeting where opponents claimed ownership of the hall until supporters quickly collected money to pay for half the meeting and speak in reply. Linda Evans emphasises the importance of lesbian and gay people speaking for themselves, being visible, and naming themselves publicly where possible. Peter Nowland’s audio recordings of actions and meetings are praised as invaluable archival evidence.

The panel also honours key figures and communities, including Alison Laurie, Porleen Simmonds, Tighe Instone, Ruth Dyson, Bruce Burnett, Tom McLean, Phil Parkinson, the Topp Twins, and the many people who campaigned, leafleted, wrote letters, challenged misinformation and supported MPs. The AIDS crisis is recognised as a crucial backdrop. Although opponents tried to use HIV/AIDS to increase fear, campaigners argued that open discussion of sexuality and safer sex was essential for public health.

In reflecting on the night the bill passed in 1986, the speakers describe nerves, relief, exhaustion, laughter, crying and sorrow that the anti-discrimination provisions were lost and would not be achieved until later. Audience comments link the 1980s campaign to contemporary struggles over trans rights, gender diversity, lesbian politics, Māori experiences, marriage equality and intergenerational change. The event closes with a dedication to rainbow ancestors who never experienced today’s freedoms, to those around the world still denied them, and to everyone continuing the work of queer liberation, solidarity and justice in New Zealand.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Bill Logan Gareth Watkins Kay Jones Linda Evans Onjei Bond Trevor Mallard

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