Today we continue to acknowledge a deeply significant moment in our history: the fortieth anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in New South Wales. Together we are here to reflect on our past, recognise the enduring pain caused by unjust laws and commit to a future that is better: a future grounded in the equality and respect that should have always existed.

I wholeheartedly commend the Government for its formal apology to those convicted under the discriminatory laws that criminalised homosexual acts. That apology comes as we remember the passage of landmark legislation introduced 40 years ago in this very Chamber.

I acknowledge the undeniable trauma that people of diverse sexualities have endured for simply being who they are. Those laws inflicted profound harm, tearing apart families and ruining lives. The truth is that New South Wales was an environment where hate and violence could flourish. The Northern Beaches community is no stranger to that pain, with a grim history of hate crimes and murders of LGBTQIA+ people casting a devastating shadow over our beautiful part of the world. My own family is also not a stranger to the horror of hate crimes. I have spoken in this place about my uncle, who insists I call him Aunty Glenn. In 1984, the very same year we are acknowledging the anniversary of, Glenn was sent to intensive care after a horrific, targeted gay bashing. He was beaten within an inch of his life. He was put into a coma. He was just 23. That was also how he had to come out to his family: explaining to his mum and dad that the traumatic thing happened because he was gay.

He was lucky to find love and acceptance in our family. Many people were not as lucky, and those people lost everything. People could lose not only their families, their jobs and their reputation, but also their freedom. They could be criminally prosecuted, putting a black stain against their name that could well have lasted forever without those vital legislative and cultural changes. We know it was wrong. For every life that was impacted, ruined or even cut short, it was wrong. It was wrong and it can never, ever happen again. I asked Aunty Glenn for his input ahead of delivering this speech. He said, "Not being able to tell your family, friends and workmates of your sexual preference was hard. The HIV/AIDS epidemic made it even harder for acceptance. Thankfully, I missed that bullet, though there were many that didn't and didn't deserve to have their lives cut short."

Yet, amidst that history, we have seen the emergence of incredible local groups that work to create a safer, more supportive community. Fusion Pride Northern Beaches, GLAM+, Girls on Fire, Lifesavers with Pride and MoWaNa are instrumental in fostering connection and the visibility of queer and gender-diverse people in our community. I thank those groups, alongside Northern Beaches Council, for creating spaces where queer people and their families can feel a sense of belonging and pride. Their efforts have provided crucial support and are actively educating and enlightening our community.

Through these efforts, the Northern Beaches is reclaiming the pride that so many have longed for. This apology should not only be a symbolic gesture but also a solemn promise that New South Wales will strive to right the wrongs of the past, dismantle the systems that breed discrimination, and build a future where every person can live with dignity and freedom. New South Wales is the last State to issue this apology. I completely share the Premier's hope that this apology, while not able to remedy history, will bring some closure to those unfairly targeted by these laws. This apology cannot just exist as words; actions will propel us to a better future.

We see hard-fought LGBTQIA+ rights and freedoms being reversed overseas, and that is terrifying. It is so important that the promise New South Wales makes today is unbreakable. It is with a heart full of hope and a spirit proudly in support of our rainbow community that I commend the Government for its much‑needed apology. Finally, I thank my senior electorate officer, Sean Moran, for his help in drafting this speech, sharing his experiences, and his awesome and sometimes dark sense of humour, as well as his endless compassion—love you, Sean.

09 August 2024, 12:15.