Alan Turing receives royal pardon

Queen Elizabeth II last week officially granted a royal pardon to computer scientist Alan Turing, who committed suicide in 1954 following a conviction over a relationship with another man. 

Turing, who famously broke the Enigma code used by Nazi Germany during World War II, was convicted of "gross indecency" in 1952 at a time when consensual sex between same-sex partners was considered a crime under British law.

Gay icon Alan Turing subject of new movie 'Codebreaker'

Alan Turing, the British inventor of a computing machine that helped break coded messages during Word War II, is the subject of a new film from executive producer Patrick Sammon. Turing was prosecuted for his homosexuality, receiving a sentence of chemical castration. He committed suicide in 1954. 

"I promise you'll leave the movie theater with a lot to think about. You'll think about the senseless tragedy. You'll probably be angry, too, and you should be. Society's intolerance cut short the life of this genius," Sammon writes.

Petition the Queen to bestow Knighthood on Alan Turing

Alan Turing, a mathematical genius, led the WWII team that broke the German code. Turing invented the Bombe, which deciphered secret messages encoded by the German Enigma machine. His invention turned the tide of WWII, shortened the war, saved countless lives and helped assure Allied victory.

Known as the father of the computer, the Turing machine is the basis for computer technology.

In 1952, Turing was arrested for gross indecency for consensual same-sex intimacy. He was offered imprisonment or chemical castration. Turing chose chemical castration. Two years later, at age 41, Turing committed suicide.

In September 2009, as a result of a successful international petition, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a formal apology to Alan Turning for the treatment he received. Brown recognized Turing’s contribution to humankind and “all those who live freely thanks to Alan’s work.” Brown stated, “I am proud to say we’re sorry, you deserved so much better.”

“Alan Turing is one of the most important figures of the 20th century,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. “Despite his exceptional accomplishments, homophobia castrated him and led to his suicide. More than an apology is required. Alan Turing deserves to be posthumously knighted by the Queen.”

To nominate Alan Turing for Knighthood, click here.