First Minister to apologise for historic homosexual convictions
A new law will also give an automatic pardon to gay men
Last updated 7th Nov 2017
The First Minister will apologise today on behalf of the Scottish Government to all men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences.
Nicola Sturgeon will make the apology at Holyrood to coincide with the publication of new legislation to provide an automatic pardon to all those convicted prior to 2001 under discriminatory laws.
The legislation was promised by Ms Sturgeon when she presented her programme for government in September.
It will enable people to apply to have such convictions removed from central criminal conviction records.
A Scottish Government spokesman previously said the move would "right a historic wrong and give justice to those who found themselves unjustly criminalised simply because of who they loved''.
The apology and the bill were welcomed by the Equality Network last month
Stonewall Scotland director Colin Macfarlane said: "The First Minister's apology today is an important moment, both for the LGBT community and for Scotland.
"Gay and bi men in Scotland were criminalised for a very long time simply for who they were and who they loved.
"Today's apology will give a great deal of comfort to many who were unjustly prosecuted, and will help draw a line, once and for all, under a dark period in Scotland's history.
"As well as the hurt and damage that came with being prosecuted for these crimes, many men have carried a criminal record with them their whole lives as a result. We're very pleased to see that this Bill includes provision for these unjust convictions to be wiped from criminal records, and a pardon, both for those living and deceased."