Effect on New Zealand Society
Eventual success of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill and Subsequent Human Rights Bill
The impact of the Homosexual Reform movement had a significant impact on New Zealand’s law regarding the rights of homosexuals, and was responsible for key rectifications made in the law. Part one of Fran Wilde’s reformation bill dealt with the legalisation of homosexual activity between males – with the desired age of consent of 16. After a gruelling 16-month period, the bill passed its third reading on 9th July 1986, by a margin of 49 votes to 44. Whilst gay rights supporters were jubilant at this result, opponents predicted very negative results of this bill. Regardless, on the 8th August 1986 the law came into effect and for the first time ever men in New Zealand could now enter into homosexual relationships without fear of prosecution. Despite this major victory for homosexual rights campaigners and Fran Wilde herself, the second part of the bill was defeated. This section of the bill dealt was meant to ensure that homosexuals could not be discriminated against on the grounds of their sexual orientation. It was essentially the human rights component of the bill. What this essentially meant was that whilst gays were now legally recognised as equals, society did not perceive them in this way, and it was still legal to degrade a homosexual because they were gay. However, in 1993 MP Katherine O’Regan proposed amendments to the Human Rights Act, attempting to rectify the failure of the second part of Wilde’s bill. O’Regan’s propositions included ensuring homosexuals were not discriminated against in the work place or in public. In 1993 the Human Rights Act passed, and it was now illegal to discriminate against gay individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. Whilst this Act went a long way to ensuring social equality between homo and heterosexuals, a certain amount of disparity still existed between them which would be addressed in years to come.
The impact of the Homosexual Reform movement had a significant impact on New Zealand’s law regarding the rights of homosexuals, and was responsible for key rectifications made in the law. Part one of Fran Wilde’s reformation bill dealt with the legalisation of homosexual activity between males – with the desired age of consent of 16. After a gruelling 16-month period, the bill passed its third reading on 9th July 1986, by a margin of 49 votes to 44. Whilst gay rights supporters were jubilant at this result, opponents predicted very negative results of this bill. Regardless, on the 8th August 1986 the law came into effect and for the first time ever men in New Zealand could now enter into homosexual relationships without fear of prosecution. Despite this major victory for homosexual rights campaigners and Fran Wilde herself, the second part of the bill was defeated. This section of the bill dealt was meant to ensure that homosexuals could not be discriminated against on the grounds of their sexual orientation. It was essentially the human rights component of the bill. What this essentially meant was that whilst gays were now legally recognised as equals, society did not perceive them in this way, and it was still legal to degrade a homosexual because they were gay. However, in 1993 MP Katherine O’Regan proposed amendments to the Human Rights Act, attempting to rectify the failure of the second part of Wilde’s bill. O’Regan’s propositions included ensuring homosexuals were not discriminated against in the work place or in public. In 1993 the Human Rights Act passed, and it was now illegal to discriminate against gay individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. Whilst this Act went a long way to ensuring social equality between homo and heterosexuals, a certain amount of disparity still existed between them which would be addressed in years to come.
Powerful speech given by MP Maurice Williamson, reflecting upon the impact of the Gay Marriage bill in New Zealand
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Civil Unions and Subsequent Legalisation of Gay Marriage in New Zealand
Roughly twenty years on from the initial passing of the reform bill, New Zealand underwent more change in the homosexual sphere. The Civil Union Act was introduced to parliament by Labour MPs David Benson-Pope and Lianne Dalziel. The Act sought to make it legal for homosexual couples to enter in to a ‘civil union’ – a legal recognition of their relationship that provided many of the same functions as marriage. The Act was passed on 9th December 2004, by a voting margin of 65-55, reflecting how closely debated the topic was in parliament. Between 2005 and 2008 there were over 2500 civil unions, as they proved extremely popular with gay couples who had been yearning for legitimate recognition of their marriage. Opposition to homosexuality conceded defeat in this respect and instead shifted their focus to ensuring marriage was not to become legal for homosexuals. Protests led by various churches who were unsettled by the change proved ineffective in achieving anything. Whilst Civil Unions was a big step for homosexual rights in New Zealand, many homosexuals still sought the right to be married in New Zealand, with legalisation of gay marriage occurring in other nations around the world. Openly gay Labour MP Louisa Wall proposed a bill that legalised homosexual marriage, which subsequently passed with overwhelming support and a 77-44 vote margin on 17th April 2013. Green MP Kevin Hague, who was present when the bill passed, stated it was an ‘enormously powerful day’ for him and that "For me it's as if our communities have come on a journey from outside of New Zealand society and we are now right inside.'' The Bill became law on 19th August 2013, and huge numbers of homosexual couples registered to be married under the new law. New Zealand became the first Oceania nation to legalise same-sex marriage, and just the fifteenth nation overall to pass this legislation.
Roughly twenty years on from the initial passing of the reform bill, New Zealand underwent more change in the homosexual sphere. The Civil Union Act was introduced to parliament by Labour MPs David Benson-Pope and Lianne Dalziel. The Act sought to make it legal for homosexual couples to enter in to a ‘civil union’ – a legal recognition of their relationship that provided many of the same functions as marriage. The Act was passed on 9th December 2004, by a voting margin of 65-55, reflecting how closely debated the topic was in parliament. Between 2005 and 2008 there were over 2500 civil unions, as they proved extremely popular with gay couples who had been yearning for legitimate recognition of their marriage. Opposition to homosexuality conceded defeat in this respect and instead shifted their focus to ensuring marriage was not to become legal for homosexuals. Protests led by various churches who were unsettled by the change proved ineffective in achieving anything. Whilst Civil Unions was a big step for homosexual rights in New Zealand, many homosexuals still sought the right to be married in New Zealand, with legalisation of gay marriage occurring in other nations around the world. Openly gay Labour MP Louisa Wall proposed a bill that legalised homosexual marriage, which subsequently passed with overwhelming support and a 77-44 vote margin on 17th April 2013. Green MP Kevin Hague, who was present when the bill passed, stated it was an ‘enormously powerful day’ for him and that "For me it's as if our communities have come on a journey from outside of New Zealand society and we are now right inside.'' The Bill became law on 19th August 2013, and huge numbers of homosexual couples registered to be married under the new law. New Zealand became the first Oceania nation to legalise same-sex marriage, and just the fifteenth nation overall to pass this legislation.
Social Change in Society
Whilst in a legal sense, homosexuals are very much on a level plateau with heterosexuals in modern New Zealand, this does not entirely reflect the societal situation. Before the bill passed, it appeared as though many New Zealanders weren’t open to homosexual marriage and that it didn’t have public support behind it. When the bill passed however, there was a major uptake in public support. This reflects how the change in legislation has positively affected homosexuals in society. People with little education or concern for this issue are happy to support it if their government supports it, and as a result society has moved towards being far more accepting of homosexuals and their right to get married.
This is similarly relevant to the previous period of homosexual reform in the 1980s, where many New Zealanders hated and publicly vilified homosexuals, believing them to be scum of society. However as more and more support gathered and legislative changes were promoted and passed, people began to listen less to the vitriolic diatribe of opponents like Norman Jones and more to the moderate, rational narrative run by those who supported homosexual reform. This allowed homosexuals to feel not only safer, but more comfortable with their sexuality as a result, and men no longer felt the need to suppress their sexual orientation. In the modern day it is clear we have came a long way from the bigoted, acrimonious society which ignored the death of Charles Aberhart and stomped on his rights and human dignity. We can be proud to live in a society, which no longer makes homosexuals feel oppressed, where they are able to live freely without fear of oppression, prosecution or inequality.
Whilst in a legal sense, homosexuals are very much on a level plateau with heterosexuals in modern New Zealand, this does not entirely reflect the societal situation. Before the bill passed, it appeared as though many New Zealanders weren’t open to homosexual marriage and that it didn’t have public support behind it. When the bill passed however, there was a major uptake in public support. This reflects how the change in legislation has positively affected homosexuals in society. People with little education or concern for this issue are happy to support it if their government supports it, and as a result society has moved towards being far more accepting of homosexuals and their right to get married.
This is similarly relevant to the previous period of homosexual reform in the 1980s, where many New Zealanders hated and publicly vilified homosexuals, believing them to be scum of society. However as more and more support gathered and legislative changes were promoted and passed, people began to listen less to the vitriolic diatribe of opponents like Norman Jones and more to the moderate, rational narrative run by those who supported homosexual reform. This allowed homosexuals to feel not only safer, but more comfortable with their sexuality as a result, and men no longer felt the need to suppress their sexual orientation. In the modern day it is clear we have came a long way from the bigoted, acrimonious society which ignored the death of Charles Aberhart and stomped on his rights and human dignity. We can be proud to live in a society, which no longer makes homosexuals feel oppressed, where they are able to live freely without fear of oppression, prosecution or inequality.
Key Ideas
-Fran Wilde's original bill passed by 49 voes to 44, meaning that homosexual activity was now legal between men. This marked a significant moment in homosexual reform history, and the paved the way for future reform.
-In the twentieth century more radical reform began to occur. In 2004 Civil Unions were legalised, meaning homosexual couples could now have their relationship legally recognised, and undergo many of the traditional marriage conventions.
-In 2013 New Zealand became the fifteenth country in the world to legalise gay marriage, after Labour MP Louisa Wall passed the bill 77 votes to 44. This led to social upheaval in New Zealand as gay couples now finally had equal legal rights as heterosexual couples, and could have their marriage in a legitimate manner,
-Fran Wilde's original bill passed by 49 voes to 44, meaning that homosexual activity was now legal between men. This marked a significant moment in homosexual reform history, and the paved the way for future reform.
-In the twentieth century more radical reform began to occur. In 2004 Civil Unions were legalised, meaning homosexual couples could now have their relationship legally recognised, and undergo many of the traditional marriage conventions.
-In 2013 New Zealand became the fifteenth country in the world to legalise gay marriage, after Labour MP Louisa Wall passed the bill 77 votes to 44. This led to social upheaval in New Zealand as gay couples now finally had equal legal rights as heterosexual couples, and could have their marriage in a legitimate manner,