UK gov't to pardon gays convicted under past anti-gay laws

FILE - In this Thursday, March 19, 2015 file photo, a notebook of British mathematician and pioneer in computer science Alan Turing, the World War II code-breaking genius, is displayed in front of his portrait during an auction preview in Hong Kong. Britain's government will posthumously pardon thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted under long-repealed anti-gay laws. The calls for a more sweeping action came after World War II codebreaker Alan Turing was awarded a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 after a conviction of indecency in 1952. The gay computer science pioneer was stripped of his security clearance and later committed suicide. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this March 19, 2015 file photo, a page from the notebook of Alan Turing, the World War II code-breaking genius, is displayed in front of his portrait at an auction preview in Hong Kong. Turing, who was convicted of indecency in 1952 for being gay and later killed himself, was awarded a posthumous royal pardon in 2013. Britain's government announced Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016, that it will posthumously pardon thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted under the long-repealed anti-gay laws. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) (The Associated Press)

Britain's government will posthumously pardon thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted under long-repealed anti-gay laws.

The calls for a more sweeping action came after World War II codebreaker Alan Turing was awarded a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 after a conviction of indecency in 1952. The gay computer science pioneer was stripped of his security clearance and later committed suicide.

Under the plan announced Thursday, the government will make the change through an amendment to the policing and crime bill.

Anyone who is still alive can apply through the Home Office to have their names cleared.

Justice Minister Sam Gyimah says the government is trying "to put right these wrongs."