Objections to report on Gay rights

Press, 23 January 1981, Page 4

Objections to report on Gay rights

j About a dozen members Jof the Gay community in Christchurch converged on Jthe office of the Human Rights Commission yester- ! day to submit written lobjectiions to the commisision’s recent report on Gay ■rights. I The group had called at (the office on Wednesday for (informal discussion with the (Human Rights Officer. Mr (R. L. Caird, and had been [asked to put their comments (in writing.

The regional representative of the National Gay i Rights Coalition, Mr D. R. Bisman,.said the five letters ■ presented certain objections 'and questions about the commission’s report. [ The report, released in December, answered submissions made by the National Gay Rights Coalition"- 18 [months ago. It Opposed the addition of discrimination

against sexual orientation to i its act. It recommended i changes against, legal anoi malies which punish men more heavily than women i for indecent acts but did not say whether penalties for men should be reduced or, those for women increased. • “We want some clarification so that we know why it has not recommended that discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation be made illegal and why it has failed to recommend any positive action at all. We really want to know where the commission stands,” Mr Bisman said. The deputation represented a majority of the Gav community, who were angry that the commission’s report suggested that some discrimination was not unlawful, and angry that it ignored overseas precedents, he said.