New South Wales Premier Chris Minns formally apologized in Parliament House on Thursday to all individuals who were convicted or otherwise affected by laws criminalizing homosexuality, which were decriminalized 40 years ago. This makes New South Wales the last Australian state to issue such an apology, following Victoria and South Australia’s apologies in 2016, and the remaining states in 2017. Same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide in 2017.
The criminalization of homosexual acts between adult men during the 1980s happened amid the fear and hostility driven by the AIDS epidemic. Although homosexual acts between women were never criminalized, the atmosphere of fear was equally pervasive. Premier Minns acknowledged the severe harm caused by these unjust laws, stating, “to those who survived these terrible years and to those who never made it through, we are truly sorry.” He acknowledged the numerous lives that were damaged, diminished, or destroyed by these laws.
Minns shared the poignant story of Peter Bonsall-Boone, known as “Bonne,” who etched his name in history in 1972 by becoming the first man in Australia to share a same-sex kiss on national television. Following his arrest and consequent conviction, Bonne was expelled from the Anglican Seminary where he was studying to be a priest. The arrest cast a long shadow over his life, barring him from many opportunities. For instance, he was unable to secure a home loan with his partner, serve on a jury, or work as a public servant, among other restrictions. Bonne’s partner, Peter de Waal, campaigned for the state to issue a formal apology for decades. Despite receiving a letter affirming the expungement of his criminal record weeks before his death, the repercussions of his conviction followed Bonne until his end.
Independent Sydney Member of Parliament Alex Greenwich, the only openly gay member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, is pushing for the government to follow this apology with concrete action. Greenwich has proposed an “equality bill” aimed at prohibiting religious schools from expelling LGBTQ+ students and firing LGBTQ+ teachers. The bill, which has passed the committee review stage, would also facilitate transgender individuals to register a change of sex without undergoing gender affirmation procedures.
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