Anniversary time to reflect on gay movement, New Zealand

9-Jul-2006

Twenty years on, those who spearheaded the nation's gay rights movement are reflecting on the bitter campaign to legalise sex between men.

Today marks two decades since the Homosexual Law Reform Act was narrowly passed.

It came after a 16-month struggle between fundamentalist Christians and gay rights campaigners, and a fierce public debate.

Fran Wilde was the Labour MP who introduced the bill.

She says the march to Parliament by groups opposed to the law reform was like New Zealand's own version of the Nuremberg Rally.

An 800,000-signature petition was reported to Parliament without recommendation, after it was found many signatures were fake or obtained under duress.
Ref: - Newstalk ZB