'I signed 27 times' placard

item details

Name'I signed 27 times' placard

ProductionHugh Young; designer; September 1985; New Zealand

Classificationplacards, political posters, picket signs

Materialscardboard, paper, paint, ink, metal

DimensionsOverall: 902mm (width), 640mm (height), 10mm (depth)

Registration NumberGH024821

Credit lineGift of Hugh Young, 2016

Overview

This placard was designed and painted by Hugh Young - a protester who supported the Homosexual Law Reform Bill - for the presentation of the petition against the Bill held at Parliament on 24 September 1985. Young designed a set of similar placards for members of HUG (Heterosexuals Unafraid of Gays) to paint and carry at the protest (HUG was formed in May 1985 to support the pro-reform movement).

The Homosexual Law Reform Bill was introduced in Parliament by Fran Wilde on 8 March 1985. It immediately caused a political and social furore, with supporters and opponents engaged in acrimonious debates.

A key part of the debate was the petition opposing the legislation. Ninety-one boxes were delivered to the steps of Parliament with the claim that there were over 800,000 signatures. Some of the boxes were empty and some petition sheets contained fictitious names (such as Mickey Mouse), signatures by children, and several repeat signatures - hence the placard's message 'I signed 27 times'. Parliament rejected the petition.