A FORMER High Court judge wants a "big Parliamentary apology" made to gay people - similiar to one Kevin Rudd made to Aborigines.

Michael Kirby, who went public about his own gay lifestyle in 1999 while on the High Court bench, remains one of the most respected figures in Australian legal history.

In a new collection of essays he says: "One day there will be a big parliamentary apology in Australia to gay people for the oppression that was forced on them and the inequalities that were maintained in the law well beyond their use-by date.

"Just like the delayed 2008 apology to the Aboriginal people of our country."

Justice Kirby, 71, also predicts legal reform for gay people, and says Australians will learn to overcome their homophobia.

"I also do not doubt that, in a comparatively short time, Australia will move towards same-sex civil unions and gay marriage," he writes.

"If Australians are now more homophobic than racist, as some recent public opinion polls suggest, this is because Australians have lacked good leadership on this issue."

Justice Kirby says just as Australians overcame racism by "getting to know" people of different races, "we would all overcome homophobia more quickly if every gay person were open and felt able to say without fear of violence and discrimination: 'This is me. Get over it. It is no big deal!' "

In 2002 Justice Kirby was falsely accused in the Senate by Liberal senator Bill Heffernan of using Government cars to solicit prostitutes. Senator Heffernan later apologised, and several times offered to shake hands with the judge.

Originally published as 'Gays should get their day of sorry too'