Comments on: MI5 embraces gay spies http://blog.usefullyemployed.co.uk/2008/08/18/mi5-embraces-gay-spies/ An Employment Law Blog by a UK barrister Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:30:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: George http://blog.usefullyemployed.co.uk/2008/08/18/mi5-embraces-gay-spies/#comment-312 George Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:16:48 +0000 http://blog.usefullyemployed.co.uk/?p=118#comment-312 Alan Turing was one of the finest minds to have worked for the British Intelligence Agencies. Working for the Government Code and Cypher School (the predecessor to today’s GCHQ) at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, he made arguably one of the most significant personal contributions to winning the war. How was he rewarded by a grateful nation? His homosexuality meant that in 1952 he was charged with gross indecency under Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, and was convicted of the same crime that sent Oscar Wilde to Reading Gaol. To avoid imprisonment, he agreed to undergo hormonal treatment designed to reduce libido. His conviction led to the revocation of his security clearance and prevented him from continuing consultancy for GCHQ. In 1954, he committed suicide, apparently by biting into a cyanide-laced apple (the story goes that the Apple Inc logo is a somewhat morbid salute to Turing, but this may be an urban legend). Happily, today’s Agencies appear to have a considerably more enlightened attitude. Alan Turing was one of the finest minds to have worked for the British Intelligence Agencies. Working for the Government Code and Cypher School (the predecessor to today’s GCHQ) at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, he made arguably one of the most significant personal contributions to winning the war. How was he rewarded by a grateful nation? His homosexuality meant that in 1952 he was charged with gross indecency under Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, and was convicted of the same crime that sent Oscar Wilde to Reading Gaol. To avoid imprisonment, he agreed to undergo hormonal treatment designed to reduce libido. His conviction led to the revocation of his security clearance and prevented him from continuing consultancy for GCHQ. In 1954, he committed suicide, apparently by biting into a cyanide-laced apple (the story goes that the Apple Inc logo is a somewhat morbid salute to Turing, but this may be an urban legend). Happily, today’s Agencies appear to have a considerably more enlightened attitude.

]]> By: Usefully Employed http://blog.usefullyemployed.co.uk/2008/08/18/mi5-embraces-gay-spies/#comment-310 Usefully Employed Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:18:29 +0000 http://blog.usefullyemployed.co.uk/?p=118#comment-310 Questioning makes a whole lot more sense than queer, and allies is nice. A <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lesbian+gay+bisexual+queer+intersex&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a" rel="nofollow">google search</a> reveals that I didn't make it up, thank goodness. Questioning makes a whole lot more sense than queer, and allies is nice.

A google search reveals that I didn’t make it up, thank goodness.

]]> By: Tom http://blog.usefullyemployed.co.uk/2008/08/18/mi5-embraces-gay-spies/#comment-308 Tom Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:45:02 +0000 http://blog.usefullyemployed.co.uk/?p=118#comment-308 GLBTQIA .... Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersexed and Ally. Have a great day. GLBTQIA …. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersexed and Ally.

Have a great day.

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