Thousands of dead gay and bisexual men in UK to be pardoned

Thousands of deceased gay and bisexual men convicted decades ago under the law that didn’t approve same-sex relationship, will be pardoned over the illegal act which was later legalized in 1967.

This comes years after British computer scientist, Alan Turing, who worked during World War II to break Nazi German codes, committed suicide in 1954 after he was subjected to chemical castration as punishment for homosexual activity, but later received a posthumous royal pardon from Queen Elizabeth II.

With the new law adopted to be the ‘Turing Law’, The Justice Minister, Sam Gyimah in his statement on Thursday said it will formally pardon those convicted under the law as long as it was consensual and they were over the age of same-sex relationship, while deceased people who were convicted for the act will be automatically forgiven.

‘It is hugely important that we pardon people convicted of historical sexual offences who would be innocent of any crime today, through pardons and the existing disregard process we will meet our manifesto commitment to put right these wrongs.’

This post first appeared on Linda Ikeji's Blog. Read the original story here.