UK's Apology for Alan Turing's Persecution

Alan Turing, genius cryptologist and a key player in code-breaking German communications during WWII was also a gay man who was later convicted of homosexuality and sentenced to chemical castration with injections of female hormones. He killed himself soon after. After an online petition, the British Prime Minister presented what seems like one of the few actually heartfelt apologies from a government:

While Turing was dealt with under the law of the time and we can’t put the clock back, his treatment was of course utterly unfair and I am pleased to have the chance to say how deeply sorry I and we all are for what happened to him. Alan and the many thousands of other gay men who were convicted as he was convicted under homophobic laws were treated terribly. Over the years millions more lived in fear of conviction… So on behalf of the British government, and all those who live freely thanks to Alan’s work I am very proud to say: we’re sorry, you deserved so much better.

via Gawker


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