Bill for Turing's Statutory Pardon

The bill for Alan Turing's statutory pardon was introduced in the House of Lords to address the historical injustice faced by Turing, who was convicted under section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885. Turing, a renowned mathematician and computer scientist, was prosecuted for his homosexuality, which was criminalized at the time. The introduction of the bill marked a significant step towards rectifying the wrongs of the past, as Turing's contributions to computing and his role in breaking the Enigma code during World War II were pivotal to the Allied victory. The campaign for Turing's pardon gained momentum when prominent figures, including physicist Stephen Hawking, publicly supported the cause, urging the government to take action. This advocacy highlighted the need for societal recognition of the injustices faced by Turing and others who were similarly convicted. The bill received government backing and successfully passed its third reading in the House of Lords, reflecting a shift in public and political attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights and historical accountability. The impact of Turing's pardon extended beyond his individual case; it laid the groundwork for the Alan Turing Law, which subsequently provided pardons to approximately 75,000 other individuals who had been convicted of similar offenses. This legislative change not only acknowledged the wrongful convictions but also served as a catalyst for broader discussions on the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in society. The pardon and the law represent a significant acknowledgment of past injustices and a commitment to ensuring that such discrimination does not continue in the future.