Almost 65,000 gay and bisexual men in the UK will have their criminal records expunged if they were convicted on sodomy charge that are no longer against the law. Only about 15,000 of them men are still alive.

 

Basically, men who were considered criminals simply for engaging in consensual same-sex activity will be posthumously pardoned.

 

The decision is based in part on a royal pardon received by Second World War code-breaker Alan Turing in 2013. He had been convicted in 1952 for gross indecency with a 19-year-old man. He was also chemically castrated following the conviction, and died two years later from cyanide poisoning (debate continues about whether his death was a suicide or an accident).

 

Those who are still alive and have been convicted for homosexual offences have to apply through the Home Office to have their names cleared. Those who are deceased will be pardoned automatically.

 

"It is hugely important that we pardon people convicted of historical sexual offences who would be innocent of any crime today," explained Justice Minister Sam Gyimah. "Through pardons and the existing disregard process we will meet our manifesto commitment to put right these wrongs."

 

A Private Member's Bill has also been introduced in Britain offering a blanket pardon for the living without the need to go through the disregard process, but the government has refused to support it.

 

At least one man is speaking out against the pardon.