The idea was first floated in the House of Commons by outgoing Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (Picture: Getty)
An LGBT+ armed forces charity has voiced its support for a statue of Alan Turing in Trafalgar Square.
The idea was first floated in the House of Commons by outgoing defence secretary Ben Wallace following a review of the experience of LGBT+ veterans who served prior to the armed forces lifting its ban on homosexuality in 2000.
If plans go ahead, the statue of wartime codebreaker Turing would feature on the square’s fourth plinth, which is currently used to showcase temporary artistic installations.
Famous for cracking the Nazis’ Enigma code, Turing was convicted for ‘gross indecency’ with a man. His conviction saw him chemically castrated, and he died of cyanide poisoning in 1954 at the age of 41.
Craig Jones, executive chairman of Fighting With Pride, said the organisation supports the new initiative.
He said: ‘Alan Turing is a man who today the United Kingdom is immensely proud of, but in his life he suffered greatly because of his sexual orientation.
‘His achievements changed the world, and therefore it would be incredible to see him recognised in this way in a position just yards away from Admiral Lord Nelson whose immortal memory we celebrate.
Turing was instrumental in cracking the Nazis’ Enigma code, but was later convicted of committing ‘gross indecency’ with a man (Picture: Getty)
‘I think [Mr Turing’s] treatment in his time is a stark contrast to the debt we recognise we owe him today.’
He added: ‘[A statue] would recognise that LGBT+ people have, like all others, met the nation’s call during our most difficult times. [Mr Turing] was right up there with the top five people who helped win the Second World War, so I think that makes him worthy.’
The statue would feature on Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth, which regularly features temporary artistic installations (Picture: Getty)
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Mr Wallace’s recent backing for the initiative followed a formal apology to LGBT+ veterans for their historical mistreatment prior to the 2000 decision to lift the ban on homosexuality in the military.
It has also received support from Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall, who said he would ‘absolutely support the defence secretary’s campaign to put up a statue of Turing in Trafalgar Square, if that’s what he’s launching’.
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The idea was first floated in the House of Commons by outgoing defence secretary Ben Wallace.
