Nats oust gay law reform

Press, 4 June 1984, Page 7

Nats oust gay law reform

PA Chateau Tongariro The Bible was quoted at the Young National conference on Saturday as argument against a remit seeking to liberalise homosexual law.

The remit, from the Wellington division, called for the immediate reform of the Crimes Act to make homosexual acts subject to no greater discrimination than heterosexual acts.

Mr David Purkiss, of Heretaunga, used I Romans, XXIV — “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleaness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves” — to oppose the remit, which was lost.

Other speakers described homosexuality as social sickness, totally unnatural, and a conveyer of disease.

Delegates were warned by one speaker that the Babylonian and Roman empires fell when promiscuity

and homosexuality became accepted, and that homosexuality was the reason acquired immune deficiency syndrome was so “prevalent.”

Ms Margaret Voyce, of Birkenhead, one of the two speakers for the remit, said homosexuality was a victimless crime. It involved two consenting adults doing what they wanted to do, however thev wanted to do it.

She said society should not be saying, “Though shalt not.”

The Wellington division chairman, Ms Heather Shotter, said the remit involved freedom of choice and the freedom of the individual.

“Should our police be tied up hanging round dark alleys and public toilets when real crimes — rape, murder, armed robberies — are being committed? You can never legislate for morality,” she said.