Gay and lesbian Tasmanians are poised for an historic apology if the Hobart City Council votes in favour of the proposal next week.

Showing that their memories haven't waned, the Tasmanian Gay & Lesbian Rights Group (TGLRG) have strongly urged the council to vote in favour of apologising to the community for banning a gay law reform stall at the Salamanca Markets 20 years ago.

More than 130 arrests were made over 7 consecutive weeks in 1988 over the stall, which was used by activists to peacefully gather signatures and distribute information about decriminalising homosexuality.

The apology recommendation comes from the Community Development Committee, who have also voted in favour of staging a public civic reception to commemorate the event.

The motion is now before the Council and needs only seven votes to go ahead. Five of the 12 Aldermen have already indicated they will approve the vote.

Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Hobart, Eva Ruzicka, is in favour of the apology and was herself caught up in the protests and arrested and held for 7 hours.

"The police actually wore rubber gloves, that was the most shocking part of the entire experience. They actually put on latex gloves to handle us, that was the level of ignorance about HIV Aids that was existing in Tasmania at the time," she says.

"Things have changed, it's time we sorted this one out and then moved on to live together."

Well-known Tasmanian gay rights activist Rodney Croome was 23 when he became involved in the protests, and was arrested four times.

"The significance of an apology would be that it would be a foundation upon which reconciliation can be built, because the events from 20 years ago were very traumatic - not just for those who were arrested, but for those who did the arresting, often quite reluctantly," Croome says.

"While we were being arrested, there were hundreds and hundreds of people protesting on the verges of the market, just outside the grasp of the Hobart City Council. Banners everywhere, police cars, television cameras - it was mayhem."

"We were threatened with jail. It was really serious and frightening... we weren't seasoned campaigners, we were just naive uni students and public servants and office workers, (a) pretty ordinary group of gay and lesbian people. It was a big step for us to take and a scary one," he says.

"It also sets an important precedent for LGTB across the country, because as far as I know this is the first time there has been such an apology. And it raises a question whether there shouldn't be an apology for other equally traumatic acts of discrimination."

So far there has only been one public objection to the apology. Alderman John Freeman told the ABC that the council should not apologise because the event occurred 20 years ago and was doing what it thought was right at the time.

The vote will be held on the 23rd June.

By ANDIE NOONAN