The Prime Minister has given a public apology for the "appalling" way computing genius Alan Turing was treated for being gay.Turing, who worked as a code-breaker at Bletchley Park during WW2, went on to develop the first modern computers, including Pilot ACE which we have here at the Museum.
In 1952 Turning was prosecuted for admitting a sexual relationship with a man and committed suicide two years later.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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I wonder what prompted the gesture so many years later.
Far too many people who could have contributed to science and art have had their lives and work cut short because of this kind of needless persecution-- Oscar Wilde always comes to mind when I think of this.
It was an online petition on the Downing Street website, supported by author Ian McEwan, scientist Richard Dawkins and gay-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. Turing was also recently chosen for an exhibition on Gay Icons at the National Portrait Gallery - http://www.npg.org.uk:8080/gayicons/smith.htm
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