British government to pardon gay, bisexual men convicted under past anti-gay laws

LONDON – Britain’s government will posthumously pardon thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted under long-repealed anti-gay laws.

The calls for a more sweeping action came after World War II codebreaker Alan Turing was awarded a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 after a conviction of indecency in 1952. The gay computer science pioneer was stripped of his security clearance and later committed suicide.

Under the plan announced Thursday, the government will make the change through an amendment to the policing and crime bill.

Anyone who is still alive can apply through the Home Office to have their names cleared.

Justice Minister Sam Gyimah says the government is trying “to put right these wrongs.”