Historic convictions for consensual sex may go

The Herald reports:

Historic convictions for sex between men could soon be quashed by the Government.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has asked her officials to find a solution for those who were convicted of now-abolished homosexuality offences, TVNZ reported.

Rather than an automatic pardon, individuals or their families would have to apply to have their convictions erased. Before homosexual law reform in 1986, sex between men was illegal even if it was consensual.

The Government’s consideration of the issue comes after Britain agreed in October to pardon thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted under obsolete legislation. It is known as the “Alan Turing law” after the World War 2 code-breaker who was posthumously pardoned for his gross indecency conviction in 2013.

Consensual sex between adults should never have been a crime.