THE IMPACT OF U.S LGBT TRENDS ON NZ...RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ATTITUDES
Social attitudes had been negative towards homosexuality in New Zealand and historians would explain this as a result on religious views that put emphasis on the need for procreation in society. The Christian faith was influential and at the time this faith interpreted scripture to place negative views towards same sex behaviour. The state used this in order to justify its actions. Controlling citizen’s behaviour along a defined value system was seen at the time as important. Religious ideas about Christianity were challenged and became more accepting which was a social factor in causing a change in underlying public attitudes that would contribute to the Homosexual Law Reform. MEDICINAL KNOWLEDGE The medicinal knowledge in New Zealand during the 1950’s and 1960’s saw the introduction of psychiatry, and homosexual men were required to visit a psychiatrist or to mental hospitals to be treated. Psychiatry viewed homosexuality as an illness that could be treated, and carried out this treatment through methods of aversion therapy. This involved nasty treatments such as electric shocks, emetic and nausea-inducing substances, and the injection of truth serums. Homosexuality was only taken off the classification for mental disorders in 1973, as New Zealand’s society’s perspective on homosexuality slowly changed with the ideas of psychiatric theories become more accepting of sexuality. Doctors and Psychiatists were often a conservative force and were reluctant to change their sympathy for the situation completely however. Homosexual men were subjected by the police and the prison system led to questions about civil rights for homosexuals in New Zealand. The death of Charles Aberhart and the subsequent acquittal of his killers inspired some people to take up the issue of the Homosexual Law Reform. URBANISATION AND COUNTER-CULTURE MOVEMENTS The counter-culture was also a force that contributed to the trend in New Zealand as it loosened what historian James Belich referred to as the ‘tight society’ and led to many in society being more open to accepting alternative ways of living. These counter-culture movements of the 1960s and 1970s were a force that led many people to consider the idea that authorities were not always right, and might even be acting against the best interests of society. GAY LIBERATION MOVEMENT The key force that influenced the trend of increased LBGTQ civil rights was the Gay Liberation Movement (GLM) and this movement’s ideology that emerged out of the Stonewall Uprising in the USA and arrived in New Zealand in 1972. Organisations for homosexual law reform began in the 1960’s. These newly forming groups took a cautious approach to encourage change. The Dorian Society was New Zealand’s first organised gay/lesbian group, founded by Jack Goodwin in 1962. The Gay Liberation Movement (GLM) brought a more radical ideology when it was established in 1972. Its aims were not restricted to law reform- it wanted to transform society. The movement promoted the idea of full equality for homosexuals, and aimed to achieve a radical change in heterosexual society attitudes. This movement was born out of the Stonewall Riots incident in 1969, as well as the establishment of the Gay Liberation Front in the US. Direct action protest tactics by the Gay Liberation Movement were events that also influenced the trend for greater civil rights for LBGTQ, as it created a confrontational and vocal presence that could no longer be ignored by politicians. HOMOSEXUAL LAW REFORM CAMPAIGN The homosexual law reform campaign held between 1985 and 1986 was a key event in influencing the trend as it led to many more people coming out in support of equal civil rights for all New Zealanders. Attempts were made to find a political solution to the issue, but there were disagreements within the liberation movement and wider society. Venn Young, who was the National MP for Egmont, put forward a private member’s bill in 1974, called the Crime Amendment Bill which proposed a age of 21 for all same-sex acts between consenting males. The Gay Liberation did not see this as a fair or equal amendment, and argued that the consenting age be 16, as of the rest of the ‘heterosexuals’. PROTEST ACTION There were also many other civil rights protests that continued throughout this period, often targeting those people that openly showed discrimination towards the gay and lesbian society. Some of these protests included, in 1978, when ‘zap packs’ were distributed to encourage a huge letter writing campaign to MP’s candidates, trade union leaders, and the media; in 1979, when members of the LGBT community were excluded from the Puss n Boots bar in Wellington, and there was a picket held in protest; in 1980, when police raided a gay sauna, questioned 30 men, and arrested and charged 8 of them. This brought about the establishment of the Auckland Gay Task Force, and also a protest march with 600 people taking part in opposition to these police raids; and then in 1980, on the 28th March, when “The National Offender’s Day” was held, with a whole day dedicated to protest, highlighting the status of gay men. MARRIAGE EQUALITY Marriage Equality, achieved in two steps with the passing of the 2004 Civil Union Act and then the 2013 Marriage Amendment Act was a further event that has contributed to the trend of greater civil rights for LBGTQ. The gradual move towards marriage equality in New Zealand was a consequence of GLM and HLR, with the passing of the Civil Union Bill a stepping stone to the eventual passing of the Marriage Equality legislation. In 2004, the Civil Union bill was passed, which created legal partnerships for both different, and same sex couples. The campaigning that led to the passing of this bill was led by the Campaign for 2004 Civil Union Act, and was set up to promote the idea of civil unions. They held events to promote and publicise, and gathered support. Even after the bill was passed they still continued to hold events to gain even more support.Tim Burnett, Labour MP, sponsored this Bill “The CUB is an acceptable alternative; marriage can remain untouched.” New Zealand is now a pluralist and socially and morally liberated society. Fundamentalism was pushed markedly and decisively to the edges of society. Statistics show that between 2005-2008 there were 2532 Civil Unions. 1164 were Lesbian, 854, were Gay, and 514 were Hetersexual unions. There were however many opposing forces that attempted to stop this Bill from passing, such as the Destiny Church, who marched against civil unions in protest, as well as the Catholic Church of New Zealand, Conservative Party, and Family First. The Legalise Love Campaign was a massive influence in the passing of the Civil Union Bill in 2004. This campaign started up in August 2011, and promoted legal marriage and adoption equality in New Zealand. Then in May 2012, Labour MP, Louisa Wall, stated that she would introduce the marriage amendment bill, ultimately leading to New Zealand becoming the very first country worldwide to legalise and introduce marriage between the LGBTQ community. |
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