The United Kingdom cancels all convictions for homosexuality: this was announced by the Minister of the Interior, who wants to “right the wrongs of the past”. People found guilty of the crimes provided for by these laws (fortunately now abolished) can now ask for the sentences to be definitively deleted from the criminal record.
“It is right that where crimes have been abolished, convictions for consensual activity between same-sex partners must also be extinguished,” explained Priti Patel, Minister of the Interior, presenting the amendment. “I hope the expansion of the pardon program can somehow right the wrongs of the past and reassure members of the LGBT community that Great Britain is one of the safest places in the world. “
These new measures go beyond the Turing Law of 2017, named in memory of the scientist Alan Turing, who unveiled the Nazi codes during the war, and committed suicide in 1954 after a conviction for homosexuality. This law provided for the automatic posthumous cancellation of sentences for nine former crimes, including “sodomy” and “serious acts of indecency”.
However, as activist Lord Cashman pointed out, it was not included, in the list of deleted homosexuality convictions, that for “solicitation”, a former offense that was used as a pretext to “frame gay and bisexual men, who at times were just chatting with another grown man.”
Earlier this year, activist Lord Lexden had defined “An affront to gay people” the fact that the list of canceled sentences in the UK had not been extended. So, now, the list will be updated, providing for the extinction of all convictions for former crimes related to consensual sexual activity with people of the same sex. The amendment will also allow posthumous pardons to those who died before its entry into force.
Other stories of Vanity Fair that may interest you:
“They wanted to save me, they tortured me.” Among the communities that “cure” gays
Alan Turing, the mathematician who defeated Hitler and was convicted of being gay
“He converted” homosexuals, today he declares: “I’m gay”
Germany, priests against the Vatican: “We bless gay couples”
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