‘Truly momentous day’ as thousands of gay and bisexual men posthumously pardoned
Thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences have been posthumously pardoned.
The historic moment was confirmed by the Government as the so-called “Turing’s Law” took effect on Tuesday.
Justice minister Sam Gyimah said it was a “truly momentous day”.
The pardons, first announced last year, have been officially rubber-stamped after the Policing and Crime Bill received royal assent.
It enshrines in law pardons for those convicted of consensual same-sex relationships before laws were changed.
There were calls for wider action after Second World War code-breaker Alan Turing was given a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 over a 1952 conviction for gross indecency with a 19-year-old man.
Turing was chemically castrated and died two years later from cyanide poisoning in an apparent suicide.
Mr Gyimah (pictured) said: “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.”
The law will also see statutory pardons for the living. This will only apply in cases where individuals have successfully applied through the Home Office’s disregard process to have historic offences removed.
Stonewall said it was an “important milestone” and “will help draw a line under the damage caused to many thousands of lives”.
The charity added: “We will be working with the Government to ensure that the way the law is implemented does ensure all gay and bi men who were unjustly persecuted and prosecuted can finally receive the justice they deserve.
“Meanwhile, we can celebrate the fact that we live in a country that acknowledges that we got this wrong in the past, and we mean to make amends for that. It is another step towards achieving acceptance for everyone, whoever they are.”
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Sharkey, whose amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill was instrumental in securing the change, said: “This is a momentous day for thousands of families up and down the UK who have been campaigning on this issue for decades.
“It is a wonderful thing that we have been able to build on the pardon granted to Alan Turing during coalition and extend it to thousands of men unjustly convicted for sexual offences that would not be crimes today.”
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: “Although it comes too late for those convicted, the friends and relatives of the thousands of people who suffered under this unfair and discriminatory law will now have a weight lifted off their shoulders.”
Rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: “This pardon is an important, valuable advance that will remedy the grave injustices suffered by many of the estimated 50,000 to 100,000 men who were convicted under discriminatory anti-gay laws between 1885 and 2003 – the latter being the year when all homophobic sexual offences legislation was finally repealed in England and Wales.
“A pardon has connotations of forgiveness for a wrong done. These men and the wider LGBT community believe they did no wrong.”
He said there were “omissions” in the law concerning men convicted of soliciting under the Sexual Offences Acts in 1956 and 1967 and gay men and women convicted for “kissing and cuddling” under a variety of other laws including the Public Order Act 1986 and the common law offence of outraging public decency.
Mr Tatchell said: “Agreements secured by Lord Cashman mean that people convicted under these other laws can also apply for a pardon.
“In the case of men now dead, it is unclear whether only the relatives of a deceased person can apply for a pardon on their behalf.
“Many convicted men were rejected and disowned by their families. The Government should make it clear that any concerned person, including personal friends, can apply for a pardon for a deceased person.”
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2017, All Rights Reserved.
