They were Key actions in the Protest for Homosexual Law Reform
This Coalition for Homosexual Law Reform poster was designed by Malcolm McAlister.
Protest & demonstrations
Large gatherings of protesters so that there was a visible presence , were among the key reform campaign tactics. A coalition group set up to support the Homosexual Law Reform Bill even held a Visibility Day in August, 1984 distribute pamphlets etc. A 'Bigot Busters" rally was held by pro-reforms in the wellington town hall in May 1985. Their motto was 'Be visible .. Be Blatant' "Come out now. Be visible , tell everyone you can . Be Blatant. Be as gay and as lesbian as you can all the time'. Bigot Busters rally at Wellington Town Hall LAGANZ 0503-B The images used in the posters designed for the campaigns portrayed that the gay community had a voice, and it was time to be heard.
Norman Jones, Member of Parliament for Invercargill, was an outspoken opponent of law reform. He fronted many meetings opposing the bill in 1985 and 1986.
Opposition to the bill
Opposition to the Homosexual Reform Bill was immediate if though the Bill was not publicised in advance, and petition against the Bill was announced on 14 Mar 1985. Sir Keith Hay and Sir Peter Tait, were two religious fundamentalists, who helped form a group called the Coalition of Concerned Citizens (CCC) . The group's motto was 'For God , Family and Country'. The group claimed that the petition would give the people of New Zealand to voice their concerns about the "decline in moral standards' The Salvation Army volunteered to take the petition door to door throughout New Zealand to order to gain signatures. Conservative National MP , Norman Jones was very outspoken in his views against the Law Reform. In a public meeting he told gay protesters who tried to disrupt his speech to "go back to the sewers where you come from ... as far as I'm concerned you can stay in the gutter".