[Trigger warning.]
"On behalf of the British government, and all those who live freely thanks to Alan's work, I am very proud to say: we're sorry. You deserved so much better."—British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, apologizing to mathematician Alan Turing, who played an integral role in breaking the German Enigma codes during World War II. His work made possible the liberation of millions of people from concentration camps, including tens of thousands of LGBTQI prisoners.
Turing himself was gay. After being convicted of "gross indecency" (i.e. being gay) in 1952, he was offered the choice to go to prison or face chemical castration. He chose the latter, and took his own life two years later.
Today, his country's prime minister explained: "This recognition of Alan's status as one of Britain's most famous victims of homophobia is another step towards equality, and long overdue."
Megablub.
[H/T to Shaker Turing.]
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