The Homosexual Law Reform Act Essay - 1688 Words

Great NZ Protests: The Homosexual Law Reform Chapter 1 Page 1 Focus Questions: How were homosexuals viewed prior to the movement, and how did this motivate the protest for the Law Reform? What actions were taken by the protesters, and what were the responses to this? What were the consequences of the Law Reform? An Introduction: The Homosexual Law Reform Act of 1986 is a law that legalised sexual relations with consent between men from aged 16 and older within New Zealand, administered by the Ministry of Justice, although the law change did not occur without significant protest. Legal Inequality Homosexuality has long been looked down upon by society, and until 1986, sexual relations between two males was considered illegal within New Zealand. A law reform, the process of examining existing laws was put into place to make changes to the Crimes Act 1961 by removing criminal restrictions against consensual homosexual relations between males. Sex between women may not have been illegal, but many lesbians suffered the same hate as gay men and were strong opposition as evidence to make sure the law would not be passed. Homophobia did have a long and troubled history in New Zealand, and remained that way overtime, making the protests during the 1980s more intense, as it pushed people to seek change. Perspectives Support Although support for the reform came from all across the country, not everyone shared the same views. Support not only came from fellow homosexuals,Show MoreRelatedWhat is homosexuality? Homosexuality is the romantic or sexual attraction or sexual behavior900 Words   |  4 Pageswith the children of Israel. Traditional Judaism views homosexual acts as wrong, but more liberal branches of Judaism (Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist) are more supportive of homosexuality. Many Traditional, or Orthodox, Judaism reject civil and Jewish same sex marriage. They believe that marriage â€Å"is reserved for the sacred union of a man and a woman in a loving relationship† (Powers). â€Å"According to the Bible, or Torah, homosexual acts are â€Å"Toavia,† an abomination† (Katz). For many OrthodoxRead MoreHomosexuality in Ha Jins the Bridegroom Essay918 Words   |  4 Pagesone of varying opinions and much heated debate. Although how tolerated homosexual behavior was all through history can differ depending on who your source is, most everyone can agree that a few large cultures were either strongly for, or against, homosexuality. One key player in the fight against homosexuality was the all-powerful England. The first English civil law against sodomy was passed by Parliament in 1533. In Act - 25 Henry 8, Chapter 6 which begins Forasmuch as there is not yet sufficientRead MorePrayer, Homosexuality, And Alcohol And Drugs1469 Words   |  6 Pagesfreedom. This paper will discuss three areas where this battle is manifested: public prayer, homosexuality, and alcohol and drugs. America today reflects the outcome of each side’s ability to make laws and the measures that were taken to achieve its goals. These laws have reshaped America. One area of reform in reshaping America involves education, specifically the controversy of keeping or prohibiting prayer in public schools. There were two landmark cases concerning the controversy of prayer in publicRead MoreAsses the Extent to Which the Ideal of Equality Is Shared by All Australians982 Words   |  4 Pageshaving equal opportunity to achieve success. 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Numerous legal issues arise inRead MoreHsc Legal Studies Family Essay1114 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Society moves ahead and the law limps behind† Discuss this referring to contemporary issues in family Society’s opinions are constantly, and rapidly changing, and consequently this poses significant challenges to the family law system in Australia. A family is a social unit containing individuals related by blood, marriage or other legally recognised relationships. Family law reforms have been implemented over the past three decades, entailing the recognition of same sex couples. FurthermoreRead MoreCultural Anthropology: Views on Lgbt Across Cultures Essay1110 Words   |  5 Pagesdeveloped from religious or humanitarian sources. Living in 21st Century America, I have personally witnessed some of the strides and struggles of GLBT (gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender) youth. In the United States there exist laws that both promote sexual diversity and laws that restrict the complete rights of such individuals. On a more cultural than legal level, tolerance for this group of people has grown significantly. America is currently in the midst of cultural change. Nonetheless, this sto ryRead MoreParadigms Of The Jewish Culture967 Words   |  4 Pagesparadigm shifts in the Jewish Culture. Jewish denominations include different groups of Jews that have developed since the ancient times. In the United States, these denominations took the form of three large groups known as Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. While each denomination keeps to certain core beliefs, there is diversity within the faith as a whole. Orthodox Judaism. Historically, there is no such thing as Orthodoxy (Kress, 2014). This term is used primarily in North America. 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In contrast, through exploring the civil and criminal cases throughout this essay, it can be seen that common law is equally, if not more compelling in the development of civil and criminal liability, and therefore leads to changes in the law. Through