When will we Change?

I begin with an outline of the works and life of one Alan Turing who I believe, needs no introduction.

Alan Mathison Turing ( 1912-1954) was a British mathematicial, logician and cryptographer. He is often considered to be the father of modern computer science and is associated with: Turing machine ( an extremely basic symbol-manipulating device which can be adapted to simulate the logic of any computer that could possibly be constructed, described in 1936), AI (Artificial Intelligence- thinking machines), Enigma (a portable cipher machine used to encrypt and decrypt secret messages adopted by Nazi Germany before and during World War II).

Turing explained in 1946 how "every known process" could be turned into a computer software. He had seen this prospect in the simple but revolutionary principle of his Universal Turing Machine. This created the amazing and groundbreaking link between the purest mathematics and the most productive industrial applications.


In 1952, Turing was convicted of acts of gross indecency after admitting to a sexual relationship with a man in Manchester. He was unrepentant and was convicted but chose to undergo hormonal treatment designed to reduce libido in lieu of going to prison. He accepted the oestrogen hormone injections, which lasted for a year, with side effects including the development of breasts. His conviction led to a removal of his security clearance and prevented him from continuing consultancy on cryptographic matters.


At the age of 42, Alan Turing committed suicide by eating an apple laced with cyanide. It is rumoured that this method of self-poisoning was in tribute to Turing's beloved film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It is speculated that the Rainbow Apple logo with a bite taken out of it was a homage to Turing. This seems to be an urban legend as the Apple logo (see picture) was designed in 1976, two years before Gilbert Baker's rainbow pride flag representing gay pride.


There is absolutely no dearth of material on him and the latest addition to the long list is David Leavy's book titled: 'The Man Who Knew Too Much: Alan Turing and the invention of the computer' in which he wishes to focus on Turin as a gay outsider, driven to his death.


It made my skin crawl as I read about the treatment meted out to this 'enigma'. I shudder to think about what the so called commoners must have endured.


The heart of the matter was again brought into focus by Ang Lee's movie Brokeback Mountain. Its amazing what the "commoners" think of the subject matter. An acquaintance of mine flaunted to have seen the movie with her on-again-off-again boyfriend. When asked by another about the storyline, I was flabbergasted by her reply: "You have these two guys who get a job and have to spend the night together and that's when they "do it". They get married and stuff.." It was saddening to see that she had just not understood the fact that they were in fact gay but the social milieu had forced them to put on a heterosexual farce. When I ever so lucidly drove home this FACT, another mumbled that how is that possible? By the way, let's not forget that this is 21st century youth talking!


I vividly remember what Boy George said in an interview on Hard Talk (BBC). Known more for his androgynous style than his awesome music today, he spoke of our inherent mentality regarding the moment "anybody tells you that they are gay, you start to think of or picture what they do in their bedrooms." Geez, is THAT TRUE or what!

Will we ever be able to let go of this proclivity? How many more movies like 'Brokeback Mountain' and 'Boys Don't Cry' will it take to spread awareness about this oh so sensitive issue. The Nature vs Nurture debate depicts both the 'scientific' sides of the core issue of homosexuality but the bottomline (I feel) is that nobody really KNOWS.

Here's to you all - Karma Chameleon by Boy George - who even in the face of adversity, have stood by YOUR OWN TRUE SELF.

Desert loving in your eyes all the way
If I listen to your lies would you say
I’m a man without conviction
I’m a man who doesn’t know how to sell a contradiction
You come and go
Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon
You come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream
Red, gold and green..
Didn’t hear your wicked words every day
And you used to be so sweet I heard you say
That my love was an addiction
When we cling our love is strong
When you go you’re gone forever
You string along..
Every day is like a survival, you’re my lover not my rival
I’m a man without conviction
I’m a man who doesn’t know how to sell a contradication
You come and go...