Fri 21 Oct 2016 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The UK Government has announced it will posthumously pardon the historical homosexual convictions of thousands of gay and bisexual men in an attempt "to put right these wrongs." Alan Turning recieved a posthumous, royal pardon in 2013 Men convicted of nonsexual homosexual acts and living with these convictions - believed to be 15,000 men - can already apply to be formally pardoned under a process introduced in the 2012 Protections of Freedoms Act. Justice Minister Sam Gyimah says for posthumous pardons, an amendment to the Protection of Freedoms Act through the Policing and Crime Bill will implement the change. Gyimah says “It is hugely important that we pardon people convicted of historical sexual offences who would be innocent of any crime today. “Through pardons and the existing disregard process we will meet our manifesto commitment to put right these wrongs.” The announcement follows the posthumous royal pardon of World War ll codebreaker Alan Turning in 2013 which sparked calls for this to be standardised.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 21st October 2016 - 3:37pm