NSW Premier Chris Minns ‘unreservedly’ apologises for state’s historical anti-gay laws

NSW Premier Chris Minns has given a formal state apology to people who suffered under the state’s historical laws criminalising homosexual behaviour.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has “unreservedly” apologised to people who suffered under historical laws that criminalised homosexuality and led to the jailing of gay men.

In a formal state apology issued on Thursday, Mr Minns said the laws “persecuted, and harmed” people based on their sexuality, and acknowledged there was “still much more work to do to ensure the equal rights of all members of the LGBTQIA+ community”.

“We’re here to apologise for every life that was damaged or diminished or destroyed by these unjust laws,” he said to a packed public viewing gallery.

“To those who survived these terrible years and to those who never made it through, we are truly sorry.

“As a state, we told you were wrong. But the truth is you are never wrong. These laws were wrong.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns apologised for ‘every life that was damaged or diminished or destroyed by these unjust laws’. Picture: NewsWire/ Nikki Short

NSW is the last state to apologise for the anti-gay laws which were reformed in 1984 through the Crimes (Amendment) Bill, passed under Labor premier Neville Wran. Mr Minn’s apology comes two days before the 40th anniversary of the amendment.

Attending the apology were more than a dozen 78ers, who attended Sydney’s first Mardi Gras, and a number of people who had been charged under the laws.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and the widow of Mr Wran, Jill Hickson, also watched Mr Minns deliver the apology.

While the laws were aimed at gay men, Mr Minns also said they “suppressed the relationships of women”.

Mr Minns acknowledged the victims of the law who attended the apology. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“Gay love was a taboo, and a thick wall of silence surrounded the love of two women,” he told the parliament.

He said lesbian mothers were denied from seeing dying partners in hospitals, and were “judged as unsuitable mothers” and had their children taken away from them.

“All of it was our fault, so today we say we are very sorry. Reliving these memories must be painful for anyone who experienced them,” he said.

Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Penny Sharpe also issued a formal apology in the upper house.

Ms Sharpe, who was the first lesbian MP to serve in NSW parliament, paid tribute to the activists who campaigned for the changes.

“I want to place on record my personal thanks to those activists who risked everything to make things easier for people like me,” she said tearing up.

“I’m able to do my job, have the family I have – my son’s here today – and live the life I want because of your efforts.”

“I stand on your shoulders and I’m profoundly grateful.”

NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman said the. Picture: NewsWire/ Nikki Short

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the laws allowed “discrimination to flourish”.

He said overturning the laws in 1984 was a “moment of liberations for many”.

“The rightful removal of shame imposed on men by their government, and a strong signal of acceptance and embrace, not just within these walls but across our communities,” he said.

Mr Speakman reiterated his apology to the men whose lives were criminalised, persecuted and harmed by the laws.

“We can’t move our state forward through division and disregard for people’s views. So today this parliament apologises … for all the pain, the hurt, the trauma caused by these laws,” he said.

Independent MP Alex Greenwich said it was a historic day for the LGBTQIA+ community. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Marking the apology as a “historic day,” Sydney MP Alex Greenwich called on the government to pass further reform to protect the LGBTQIA+ community, through his Equality Bill.

The proposed legislation, which has support from multiple advocacy bodies, includes protection for LGBT students, and aims to allow trans people to change their gender without gender reassignment surgery.

“We have come a long way in the 40 years since decriminalisation, but it’s time we catch up with the rest of the country on LGBTQIA+ reform,” said Mr Greenwich.