The Victorian government will apologise for "shameful" historic laws that criminalised homosexuality.
Before 1980, when homosexuality was decriminalised, men could be handed up to 15 years' jail for consensual sex with other men.
A state apology will take place in parliament in May, Premier Daniel Andrews said.
"Sending the strongest message that we are sorry," he told reporters, while attending the Midsumma Pride March in Melbourne.
"That that was a dark chapter in our state's history and that we are better than that."
The government last year moved to expunge criminal convictions for consensual sex and fraternisation.
"It was shameful that our laws prohibited and turned those activities into crimes," he said.
"Many men have had to live with the difficulties of those criminal records for a very long period of time."
The apology will take place on May 24.
