Date: Sun, 28 Jul 1996 05:58:04 -0400 (edt)
From: Sam Damon <damon@dorsai.org>
Subject: Aversion therapy story/Alan Turing


Perhaps the greatest tragedy in the annals of homophobic therapy is the case
of British mathematician, Alan Turing (1912-54).  His contributions to the
world are still felt widely today, having been recognized as the father of
modern computer science (his hypothetical Turing Machine and the Turing Test
are buzzwords in artificial intelligence).  Perhaps even more significant in
the 1930's was his success in breaking the the notoriously difficult Nazi
secret code, Enigma.  That saved many British lives and no doubt helped
shorten the war.  Turing's efforts were dramatized in Hugh Whitmore's play,
"Breaking the Code," first staged in London in 1986 and enjoyed a successful
run in NYC with Derek Jacobi.  His genius permeated many other fields of
mathematics and science.

Unfortunately, his private life was less successful.  When he reported his
young lover, Arnold Murray, to the police for burglary, Murray revealed the
sexual nature of their relationship.  Turing was arrested and given a choice
of either going to prison or undergoing now-disproven hormonal therapy. 
While not immediately as uncomfortable as aversion therapy, it can be said
that the lasting physical changes may be more devastating.  As the forced
therapy continued, Turing's mental state deteriorated (I'm not sure whether
is was psychological or hormonally-induced) and he developed breast. 
Imagine how you, as a prominent malecitizen, would feel living in stodgy
1950's British society with feminine breasts.  Turing finally committed
suicide by eating a cyanide-laced apple, hoping that his mother would
believe that it was an accident.

William Stewart points out that the role of British intelligence in Turing's
death is debated.  "At best, his wartime contributions were classified, and
coul not be revealed in his defence in court.  At worst the Government
wanted him out of the way because of a cold war fear that he might reveal
government secrets to his partners."  Lest we think that the latter scenario
is silly, I should point out that our own US government still considers gays
a security risk despite the Rand Report.

As for Turing's homosexuality, the eminent sexologist John Money once
pointed out that Michelangelo's homosexuality probably contributed to his
creativity and genius.  I could say the same for Turning.  Mathematics, with
its abstract nature, often needs more creativity than mere brute force.  The
same can be said for code-breaking.  And this is especially true in emerging
fields like computer science in the 1940's.  If the gay-creativity
connection is proved, I dare say that it was because of Turing's
homosexuality that Britain and the world benefitted,

How sad that a mathematician in his 40's, often the prime years of academic
output, is so tragically snuffed out.  What a loss for the world and future
generations.  Turing had already showen genius, with promise of more.  His
theoretical work into the still nascent field of computer science had proven
that.  Given time, I think he would surely have ranked with Kurt Goedel,
John von Neumann, Bertrand Russell and Paul Erdos (among others) as this
century's greatest and most original mathmaticians.