Britain Extends Pardons Policy for Consensual Same-Sex Partners
LONDON — A four-decade-old conviction has haunted Terry Stewart, a 68-year-old former social worker, throughout his adult life.
Classified as a sexual offense, it came up when he applied for a mortgage or a job, and it stymied memberships to some social organizations.
The crime: He was convicted under a now-defunct law of “importuning,” or soliciting same-sex sexual activity. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted anyway. “It’s not just a slap on the wrist and a 10 pound fine,” said Mr.
Stewart, a London man who was active in the gay liberation movement in the 1980s. “It impacted me my whole life.” Legislative changes over the years have allowed pardons to be granted to gay and bisexual people convicted of sexual offenses under laws that were later repealed.
