At last Freedom for gay in Australia, as they receive an Apology for once being convicted

LGBT flg

Celebrations in the air for the gay in Australian, after suffering years of continuous conviction for being gay. The LGBT community has finally started receiving an apology by government.

                                                                        Tom

One Tom Anderson who celebrates, was also convicted when he was 14 years old, even
though he gained the courage to report his predator employer to the police in 1977. Anderson was also charge under laws in Victoria that made gay a sex crime. In spite of that he never desist, as he was always arrested for buggery and gross indecency.

"It has affected relationships, it has affected my ability to relate to people, trust people," Anderson told a Mashable reporter. "It was a huge betrayal of trust by the police and the system that my parents put faith in." he said.

Last week Tuesday, the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews atoned for that betrayal and many more with a formal apology to those affected by the state's previous criminalisation of homosexuality. Under the old laws, men who had sex with other men could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Even indicating the desire for a gay liaison could be punishable under the offense of "Loitering for homosexual purposes."

While homosexuality was finally decriminalised in 1981, those with convictions were forced to bear the shame of a criminal history that complicated job prospects and travel. Thousands of Victorians are believed to have been charged or convicted for homosexual acts under the old laws, with 40 men prosecuted in 1960 alone. 

While the government finally introduced a process to expunge those convictions last year, an apology was seen as overdue recognition of the years of hurt caused to gays and lesbians, as well as abuse victims such as Anderson.

“It’s an acknowledgement that, finally, I did nothing wrong,” said Anderson, who joined several other men affected by the laws at the parliament building on a tear-filled day. “For years I thought I did something wrong.”

He also said "I can go home and say that I’ve achieved something," he said. "Something that was a dream six years ago.” 

                                                                         Kennedy

Kennedy’s aim was for his voice to be heard by the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and Trans people (LGBT) who might still be struggling with it.

"It's not easy being different, but this government is acknowledging it's OK." He said.

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