Expunging criminal records for gay sex and apologising for anti-gay laws

Tasmanian Citizens draw to the attention of the House: It is wrong that men who were convicted in the past of consenting sex with other adult men still have criminal records. It is also wrong that some transgender Tasmanians have records of convictions under Tasmania's former laws against cross-dressing. These recorded convictions can make it difficult to obtain employment and housing, and to volunteer, and they create an unfair criminal stigma. The laws these Tasmanians were convicted under fostered discrimination, prejudice and stigma against all gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex Tasmanians. Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to: Pass legislation to allow for the criminal records of men convicted of private, consenting adult sexual activity, and the records of people convicted of cross-dressing, to be expunged, and apologise to all those hurt by our former laws that criminalised homosexuality and made cross-dressing an offence.