It ’s too recent to relieve World War II codebreaker and figurer inventorAlan Turing , who was chemically neuter for being homophile in 1952 . But 55 years after Turing ’s death , the British PM Gordon Brown has apologized .
Turing is one of the most intriguing and authoritative trope in British intelligence activity account . His work on an former codebreaking computer visit the “ Bombe ” helped break-dance the German Enigma computer code during World War II , giving British intelligence a way to eavesdrop on secret German military communications . After the war , Turing go on his work on computers and later organize an intelligence trial for auto called the Turing Test .
Throughout his tenure with British word , Turing was openly gay . He never tried to cover his sexuality , and the government chose to tolerate him while he stay on an plus to the war try . When he bear on to conduct open thing with human being during peacetime , however , the problems begin . He was convicted of “ gross indecency ” and forced to undergo chemical substance castration . His security measures clearance was repeal , and he had to quit act at the UK Government Communications Headquarters .
Two years later , he was found dead in his home , seemingly after eating a cyanide - laced Malus pumila . The death was ruled a self-destruction , though some have questioned whether he might have been assassinated .
The campaign to get a public excuse issued for Turing was started by computer scientist John Graham - Cumming , who catch G of people to signal a petition , including celeb Ian McEwan and scientific discipline celeb Richard Dawkins . On Wednesday Nox , Gordon Brown cut an apologia for Turing ’s “ horrific ” treatment that read , in part :
Without [ Alan ’s ] undischarged part , the history of world war two could well have been very different .
The debt of gratitude he is owed makes it all the more ugly , therefore , that he was plow so inhumanely . Alan and the many thousands of other jocund men who were convicted as he was convicted under homophobic law were treated atrociously . Over the years millions more live in fear of condemnation .
This recognition of Alan ’s status as one of Britain ’s most notable victims of homophobia is another step towards equality and long overdue .
But even more than that , Alan deserves recognition for his contribution to humanity … It is thanks to human beings and women who were totally committed to push fascism , mass like Alan Turing , that the horrors of the Holocaust and of total warfare are part of Europe ’s history and not Europe ’s present .
So on behalf of the British government , and all those who live freely thanks to Alan ’s work I am very majestic to say : we ’re sorry , you deserved so much better .
Though the apology is symbolical , since Turing is dead , it is nevertheless a very powerful symbol . One of the gravid twentieth century heroes of flake and queers alike is in the end vindicated .
Neal Stephenson features Turing in his novel Cryptonomicon , which manage in part with Turing ’s part in create the Bombes at Bletchley Park – and in part with the precious graduate scholarly person Turing dated . I am ready for Russell T. Davies , former showrunner for both Doctor Who and Queer as Folk , to write and take the ultimate science fabrication miniseries about Turing now .
viaUK Guardian , BBC News
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