British government apology on homophobia after 55 years

From the New York Times in the USA:

Britain: Apology to Gay Mathematician

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Published: September 11, 2009

Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologized Friday to the mathematician Alan Turing, who committed suicide in 1954 after he was tried and convicted of “gross indecency” for being homosexual.

Mr. Brown said that Turing had been treated “terribly” and that the outcome of World War II could have been quite different had it not been for Turing’s efforts in cracking German codes, notably the Enigma coding machine. Turing is often hailed for his influence on modern computing. Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for a formal apology from the government, though Turing has no known surviving family, The Daily Telegraph reported. Writing in the newspaper, Mr. Brown said: “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.” Turing was sentenced, as an alternative to prison, to chemical castration by a series of injections of female hormones, the prime minister noted.

See also here.

Comment: Brown’s apology to Alan Turing is not good enough: here. And here.

A Mind from Math: No one did more to build the foundation of computer science than Turing: here.

Homophobia in Britain: here. And here.

Gay Australians want marriage, not partnerships: here.

GAY RIGHTS IN THE FORMER EAST GERMAN DDR: here.

UGANDA – ON THE CUSP OF INTRODUCING DEATH PENALTY FOR GAYS: here.

The Ugandan government will put to death gay citizens repeatedly caught having sex and throw into jail those who touch each other in a “gay” way, if a new proposed Bill becomes law: here.