Mark Burton, MP

Minister of Justice

Parliament Buildings

Wellington

Thursday, 28 June 2007

Dear Mark,

Like most New Zealanders, I think everyone deserves a fair go. However, there is a legal argument called the "Homosexual Panic Defence" which is plainly unfair to Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Kiwis.

Too many times in New Zealand a murderer's sentence has been lessened because it is claimed that their victim allegedly made sexual advances.

New Zealand has some of the most progressive LGBT laws in the world but Homosexual Panic Defence is unjust and discriminatory.

On behalf of the queer and queer-friendly members of the Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association, I urge you to create and table a bill in parliament that will remove the “Homosexual Panic Defence” from New Zealand legislation.

Thank you,

Richard Mitchell

President

Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association

Phone/Fax: 03 477 6974

Mobile: 021 182 6274

Email: president@opsa.org.nz