Law Reform Girl 1986 (2023)

The jacket was made by my drag sister Shuvon.

In 1986 the Homosexual Law Reform (HLR) bill was passed into law, decriminalising homosexual acts in NZ. This was the outfit I wore to march down Queen St, the main road in Auckland's CBD. I marched in solidarity with my gay, lesbian and trans brothers and sisters and many straight allies. Arm in arm with my drag sisters, we marched and our image ended up on the front page of the NZ Herald. I was courting discovery as I was not yet out to my family.

The HLR bill was an important step allowing our community to deal with the impending effects of a strange virus decimating gay communities overseas, later called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

'Law Reform Girl 1986' (2023) by Yuki Kihara.
Plastic doll, fabric and mixed media. 360mm (H) x 170mm (W).
Dolls created for BERTHA (2023) in Paradise Camp an exhibition by Yuki Kihara, curated by Natalie King. Commissioned by Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. Courtesy of Yuki Kihara and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa New Zealand. Photos: Gui Taccetti.