POLITICIANS of all stripes have supported a call by Victorian Labor to delete historic convictions against gay men for consensual sex.
It came as thousands gathered at St Kilda to march at Melbourne's annual gay pride event on Sunday, including AFL footballers Brock McLean and Daniel Jackson.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said it was time to right a wrong and remove the black mark of a conviction for a crime that was taken off the statute books more than 30 years ago.
Mr Andrews promised he would pursue the change if Labor wins the state election.
"We'll waste no time on this," Mr Andrews told reporters at the march.
Mr Andrews said the convictions were a stigma thousands of gay men still had to live with.
"There's an element of shame, there's hurt and of course there's a whole lot of practical impacts as well in terms of visas and job applications."
Health Minister David Davis said the government was working through proposals to achieve expungement of former convictions.
"The principle is a correct one and I think the government is very aware of that," he said.
Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt said the change would make a difference in people's lives and pushed for federal leaders to support marriage equality.
"The time has come to completely clear people's records ... that are really a relic of an era where discrimination was entrenched," he said.
Carlton player Brock McLean, whose sister came out recently, said he wanted to show his support for the gay community.
"There is homophobia in sport," he said.
"If we can start to get more people to talk about it ... and stand up for what's right and that's treating everyone equally, that's a win-win for everybody."
Gay Aussie rules player Jason Ball said he was honoured to lead the march.
The local Yarra-Glen footy club player made headlines when he petitioned last year for the AFL to take a stand against homophobia.
"It will be pretty hard to wipe the smile off my face today," Mr Ball said.
"The real heroes of my story are my straight teammates who will be marching with me.
"I think that really breaks down that stereotype that footy boys are a bunch of homophobic knuckleheads."
The Hamer Liberal government decriminalised homosexuality in Victoria in 1981.
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