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December 2013

OFFICIAL – ALAN TURING PARDONED POSTHUMOUSLY

OFFICIAL – ALAN TURING CONVICTION QUASHED
Updated 2nd January 2014 with an interview with Tony Fenwick, co-chair LGBT History Month
The UK Government has officially announced that with effect from midnight on 24th December 2013, openly-gay codebreaker Alan Turing is granted an official posthumous pardon for his 1952 ‘gross indecency’ conviction. Turing, genius mathematician and the founder of the modern computer technology, was found dead in 1954, in an apparent suicide. In 2009 the Government issued an apology for Alan’s homophobic treatment – chemical castration in order to avoid a prison sentence – but had stopped short of a pardon. LGBT History Month are pleased that at least here in Britain, 2013 will end on a positive note for the LGBT community. Co-chair Tony Fenwick will be speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live from 5am today, to comment on the announcement: http://www.bbc.co.uk/5live/on-air

Namibian political leader stands up for gay rights

Namibian political leader stands up for gay rights – Leader of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance in Namibia says ‘Africans must stop hiding the reality’ of LGBTI citizens. The leader of one of Namibia’s political parties has spoken out for gay rights and gone head-to-head with his opponents who claim homosexuality is un-African.

Australia high court overturns ACT gay marriage law

Australia high court overturns ACT gay marriage law – Australia’s High Court has overturned legislation allowing gay marriage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The ACT parliament passed a bill in October making the territory the first part of Australia to legalise same-sex weddings.

The implementation timetable for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013

The implementation timetable for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 was announced today – Culture Secretary Maria Miller said: “Marriage is one of our most important institutions, and from 29 March 2014 it will be open to everyone, irrespective of whether they fall in love with someone of the same sex or opposite sex.”