THE Alan Turing Bill, which would pardon over 15 thousand homosexuals still living today, will not go ahead.
The Private Member’s Bill was put forward by John Nicolson, SNP MP, to allow anyone who was convicted for same sex relations in the past to get their criminal records cleared.
However, Minister of Justice Sam Gyimah talked out the debate speaking for 25 minutes: a move that aims to favour the government’s own version of this law.
MP from Manchester Withington, John Leech, who has long campaigned for the Turing Bill, said: “I’m really disappointed that the government chose not to support the Private Member’s Bill.
“There’s a lot of people that have been campaigning for a very long time and it’s very disappointing that the government are playing political games just to claim credit for a campaign that’s been run by so many people for so long.”
Speaking to Key 103, Andrew Gilligan, from LGBT Foundation in Manchester, said that the government’s decision is “unforgivable and hurtful” for those who were convicted and their families.
According to Mr Gyimah, giving a blanket pardon to anyone who is still living and was convicted in the past could lead to some people being cleared of crimes that are still illegal today.
However, the Bill already states that people whose convictions are still crimes will not be pardoned.
A bartender at Viva Club, in the Manchester gay village has said: “This is ridiculous. It’s a complete waste of money and time to debate over something that shouldn’t even be debated on. People are white, black, straight or gay and no-one has the right to debate that.”
Sara, a transgender girl, said: “Hearing that is really sad. Everyone should be equal and no-one should judge them for what they believe in or what they are.”
The government plan to give a blanket pardon only to the dead. Those who are still alive will have to make an application to the Home Office, which will consider whether or not their case deserves a pardon.
Listen to John Leech’s full comment here:
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