Victorian men prosecuted for having gay sex will be able to apply to have their convictions erased under laws before state parliament this year.

Gay rights advocates welcomed the move, saying it will help end the stigma and shame endured by hundreds of men based on discriminatory laws more than 30 years ago.

Denis Napthine made the announcement to delete gay criminal records as he became the first Victorian premier to open Melbourne's 26th annual Midsumma carnival, which drew thousands of revellers to celebrate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex (GLBTI) culture on Sunday.

"This is a good piece of legislation," Napthine told reporters in Melbourne.

"I'm surprised it's taken this long but this is fair and reasonable."

The Hamer Liberal government decriminalised homosexuality in Victoria in 1981.

Under legislation before parliament this year, those convicted of consensual sexual acts with other men can apply to have the convictions expunged.

"I recognise the GLBTI community has a great contribution to make to this great state and the diversity of this state," Napthine told reporters.

"What we want is people to be able to enjoy their sexuality in whatever form it takes within the privacy of their own home".

Human Rights Law Centre advocacy director Anna Brown said deleting unjust convictions would help end shame endured by gay men unfairly burdened with criminal records.

"Acknowledging these laws were wrong and legislating to abolish the left-over convictions will start to heal the harm these discriminatory laws have caused," she said.

Until 1981 gay men were convicted and even jailed for offences including buggery and loitering for homosexual purposes, which created barriers to work, volunteering and travel.

In some cases men who would now be treated as sex abuse victims were charged.

Victorian man Noel Tovey says he was pleased he could remove the black mark from his name. "It's good to know at the age of 80, that I am no longer a criminal in the eyes of the law and society," he said.