Dorian Society

The Dorian Society (1962–1988) was the first New Zealand organisation for gay men.^[1] It was primarily a social club that avoided political action. In 1963, it took the first steps towards law reform by forming a legal subcommittee that collected books and other resources.^[2] It also provided legal advice to its members. By 1967 it sought advice from the English Homosexual Law Reform Society and Albany Trust on the legislative changes occurring there. This led to a New Zealand society dedicated to law reform. Its first project was a petition, signed by 75 prominent citizens, that was presented to (and rejected by) Parliament in 1968.^[3]

The name Dorian Society was used in 1965 by an organization in Seattle Washington that was a politically active group of gay men who were originally contacted by Rev. Mineo Katagiri to talk with religious leaders in the city. The first radio interview with openly gay men was broadcast on KRAB radio by members of that group. The Dorian Society was formed and soon split into two factions. The book Gay Seattle goes into detail about this group.

The Wolfenden Association[]

About 150 people attended a public meeting in Wellington on 17 April 1967 to form a society to work for homosexual law reform. It called itself the Wolfenden Association, but it soon became the New Zealand Homosexual Law Reform Society. Lord Cobham, a former governor-general, was invited to become its patron. His letter to the society secretary, Jack Goodwin, declining patronage was blunt and expressed a common attitude:

See also[]

• LGBT in New Zealand
• Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform
• Dorian Society, founded in 1967 in Seattle, Washington in the United States

References[]

External links[]

• AIM25
• Lesbian and gay archives
• "Mates and Lovers" - Book
• Tim Mayhew Collection on Gay Rights. 1964-1999. 9.15 cubic ft. (21 boxes, 1 vertical file and 1 oversize folder) at the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.