The Spencer Maxwell Foundation launches at Parliament
The Parliament event marking the historic 40th anniversary of Homosexual Law Reform was fabulous. It was a night of joy, reflection, and community, celebrating the monumental 1986 shift toward human rights, decriminalisation, and true acceptance in our nation's history.
The evening also marked a significant milestone for us, as it hosted the official launch of The Spencer Maxwell Foundation. As Silver Sponsors of the event, the Foundation was proud to support an occasion that honoured the courageous activists, allies, and community members who fought so tirelessly for change.
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The event perfectly balanced a celebration of love and progress with a reminder of the work that lies ahead. While the hard-won advancements in LGBTQI+ equality remain vulnerable to systemic rollbacks, the night proved that our community will continue to acknowledge, protest, and thrive by coming together and finding joy.
Celebrating Spencer’s identity:
This historic celebration was deeply personal. While the night marked how far Aotearoa has come since July 1986, it was also a tribute to Spencer's lasting legacy. Like many of his generation, Spencer struggled early in life to feel safe being his true self. Though he could only be there in spirit, we know he would be filled with pride to see us celebrating on the day.
Spencer’s name was featured in the booklet commemorating the event, sharing space with two other Kiwi men who spent their lives closeted, suffering in silence, in communities that rejected them and offered no legal protections. To finally see Spencer’s truth spoken aloud, celebrated, and woven into the legacy of New Zealand's rainbow history was a poignant reminder of what the Foundation is about - generosity, decency and standing up for what is right.
Spencer would have absolutely loved the evening, and we remembered him fondly throughout the evening.
What's Next?
The Spencer Maxwell Foundation is officially ready for business, and we are ready to honour Spencer’s wishes through the Foundation’s work. Thank you to everyone who supported us on this momentous occasion! And thank you to everyone who made this historic night possible.
To learn more about the anniversary and the ongoing legacy, visit:40yearsoflove.nz
