The UK Has Pardoned Gay & Bi Men Convicted Under Unjust Historic Laws

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Published

January 31, 2017

Thousands of gay and bi men convicted of sexual offences in the United Kingdom which no longer exist have officially been pardoned, after the so-called Turing’s Law took effect. The pardons were announced last year.

Justice Minister Sam Gyimah says thousands of gay & bisexual men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences have been posthumously pardoned

— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) January 31, 2017

The laws were demanded after Alan Turing – the Second World War codebreaker often described as the father of the modern computer – was issued a similar pardon. Turing killed himself after being chemically castrated following a conviction in 1952 for gross indecency with a 19-year-old man.

Obviously, given so many men were charged with offences under laws repealed later down the track for being patently unjust, the LGBTQI community were keen to see further pardons. Those who have died since they were charged are issued an automatic posthumous pardon, but men who are still alive can apply.

Justice Minister Sam Gyimah said the UK Government is pleased this passed. “This is a truly momentous day. We can never undo the hurt caused, but we have apologised and taken action to right these wrongs.”

“I am immensely proud that Turing’s Law has become a reality under this Government.”

Stonewall, the LGBT charity, issued a statement applauding the move:

Another important milestone of equality has been secured in law. Gay and bi men, cautioned or convicted for kissing, holding hands or just chatting up men, can now have these ‘crimes’ deleted from their record. The more equality is enshrined into our law books, the stronger our equality becomes, and the stronger we as a community become. This is not just equality for gay and bi men, the passing of this law is justice.

Not everyone is totally pleased with the way it went down, and the language of the legislation. Some think a ‘pardon’ isn’t enough, and others pointed out that the UK’s harsh immigration regime deports many LGBT people.

You don’t *pardon* someone for being who they are. These convictions should be quashed, & the UK Gov should apologise for the persecution. https://t.co/t7ZliOklBh

— Rachel Evans ???? ? (@rvedotrc) January 31, 2017

Govt doing this also forcibly deporting gay men and other LGBT people from the UK TODAY. not our allies. @followMFJ https://t.co/GjaDV8Nvbu

— Michael Segalov (@MikeSegalov) January 31, 2017

Fantastic news of course. But I can’t stop thinking about all the men who took their own lives. It didn’t get better for them. #NeverForget?? https://t.co/xsQb4aaofr

— Simon Blee (@simonbleeNI) January 31, 2017

Source: The Telegraph.

Photo: Wikipedia.