Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

The Prime Minister has released a statement on the Second World War code-breaker, Alan Turing, recognising the “appalling” way he was treated for being gay.

Alan Turing, a mathematician most famous for his work on breaking the German Enigma codes, was convicted of ‘gross indecency’ in 1952 and sentenced to chemical castration.

Gordon Brown’s statement came in response to a petition posted on the Number 10 website which has received thousands of signatures in recent months.

Read the full statement here: http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20571

It was appalling. Breaking the Nazi code won the war.

G

Whether or not he was a hero (and he certainly was), he was one of many who were treated horrifically during those unenlightened times. I am glad, despite so many things becoming worse these days, our understanding and social tolerance towards those who are different within our society is, for the greater part, improving and has improved dramatically.

I'm no Brit so put me in my place; but this is the government's first official apology regarding Alan Turing right?

In any case its a damn shame what happened to one of the key players in WW2. Gays are the second most discriminated people of all time; right behind women. RIP.

Cane wrote:I'm no Brit so put me in my place; but this is the government's first official apology regarding Alan Turing right?

In any case its a damn shame what happened to one of the key players in WW2. Gays are the second most discriminated people of all time; right behind women. RIP.

That's a pretty bold statement, any data to back it up? I figured Jews would be in position 1 or 2, but that's just supposition on my part with all the pograms that have gone on through history.

Children are before all three, technically.

Orkeosaurus wrote:Children are before all three, technically.

What about Homosexual Jewish Female Children?

Gwar! wrote:

Orkeosaurus wrote:Children are before all three, technically.

What about Homosexual Jewish Female Children?

ding ding ding! Winna, Winna, Winna!

I failed the turing test

And also it's a good thing that they honored one of the most brilliant mathematicians of the 20th century

MeanGreenStompa wrote:Whether or not he was a hero (and he certainly was), he was one of many who were treated horrifically during those unenlightened times. I am glad, despite so many things becoming worse these days, our understanding and social tolerance towards those who are different within our society is, for the greater part, improving and has improved dramatically.

Yeah, we've come a long way. Still got a long way to go, mind you, but it's important to remember how far we've come.

Cane wrote:I'm no Brit so put me in my place; but this is the government's first official apology regarding Alan Turing right?

In any case its a damn shame what happened to one of the key players in WW2. Gays are the second most discriminated people of all time; right behind women. RIP.

They call that misery poker, and it's a ridiculous thing to argue. If women suffer more or less than gays it doesn't diminish or impact the discrimination inflicted in any way.

Back when punishment meant something...

If only we used it for punishing actual criminals. But it is about time for an appology, no matter his sexuality and the social attitudes of the time, he played a major role in the winning of WWII.

It is just a shame that fact seemed to be overshadowed by him being gay. How times have changed... Now no one would care that he was instrumental in winning a war, or that he was gay.

They would probably protest that he was aiding the war effort.

Thankfully he was also a genius, so he'd have that going for him.

Cane wrote:I'm no Brit so put me in my place; but this is the government's first official apology regarding Alan Turing right?

In any case its a damn shame what happened to one of the key players in WW2. Gays are the second most discriminated people of all time; right behind women. RIP.

Thats not accurate by any stretch of the imagination.

Ask Christians in Darfur
US slaves
British slaves
Armenians under the Turks (the few left alive)
That whole Jew untermensch thing
on and on

Gwar! wrote:

Orkeosaurus wrote:Children are before all three, technically.

What about Homosexual Jewish Female Children?

Depends if they are red-headed or not.

And lets not forget Ancient Rome, where most of the Nobility had a Boy to bugger and no-one cared, or ancient Athens, where it would have been weirder not to be Gay