Homosexual law changes

Press, 18 April 1985, Page 20

Homosexual law changes

Sir,—The world is richer for the legacy of imaginative and precise writing by reputed homosexuals like Wilde, Hemingway, Maugham, Coward, Auden and James K. Baxter. The last three also wrote unprintable, obscene verse. Their free-wheeling work, however, matches the artistic genius of the many, like de Maupassant and Gauguin, who were driven by cerebral syphilis, and the alcoholism and opium addiction of many great poets and artists. Conan Doyle praised the inspiration effected by cocaine. Schizophrenics display the same free gait or withdrawal to inner fantasy. Obsessive-compul-sive energy is common to them all, fooling even psychiatrists with their precise “logic.” Fran Wilde succumbed to brain-washing by itchy propagandists, and, now that only the “consenting adults in private” formula will succeed, she abuses her opponents while begging for “equal time” at the huge rallies against the bill. She promised the lobbyists a lot more — access to the immature. — Yours, etc., VARIAN J. WILSON. April 15, 1985.

Sir,—l write to declare my disassociation from the people who gathered in the Square on Sunday to drum up opposition to the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. I am really angry at the moralising stance taken by some other Christians, and sad at the pain caused to gay people who have it tough in this punitive society.—Yours, etc., LEONARD J. PIERCE. April 16, 1985. Sir,—To read the comments of Neville M. Rush on homosexuality (“The Press,” April 16) is no less distressing for me than it is for him to read mine about the Salvation Army. But that is not the point. Freedom of belief and expression, long established in this country by law and custom, must include the freedom to disbelieve. Mr Rush’s vision of the Kingdom of God is not mine; neither is it the vision of many others. Unlike Mr r Rush, I do not seek to impose my \ beliefs and ethical code upon him

and others of his persuasion by force of law. I merely ask that the tolerance to believe and practise what he chooses be extended to me too. — Yours, etc., SHAUN JONES. April 16, 1985. Sir,—So many people are misreading opposition to the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. Yolanda Wisewitch (April 16) calls our opposition “gay bashing.” Nothing could be further from the truth. One of the main reasons for opposing the bill is our concern for the person of the individual homosexual. The law of God stands, and nobody who breaks the law or rejects it will have any part in the Kingdom of God. Yolanda misunderstands the Gospel message. While grace tempers the law until the return of Christ, even John, chapter iii, which is the heart of the Gospel message, tells us that the anger or wrath of God remains on everyone who does not accept the sovereign reign of Christ in their life. — Yours, etc., NEVILLE M. RUSH. April 16, 1985.