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| Germany anti-gay law: Plan to rehabilitate convicted men | Germany anti-gay law: Plan to rehabilitate convicted men |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Germany is set to annul the convictions of gay men under a law criminalising homosexuality that was applied zealously in post-war Germany. | Germany is set to annul the convictions of gay men under a law criminalising homosexuality that was applied zealously in post-war Germany. |
| Justice Minister Heiko Maas is to overturn the convictions and create a "right to compensation". | Justice Minister Heiko Maas is to overturn the convictions and create a "right to compensation". |
| About 50,000 men were convicted between 1946 and 1969, under a 19th-Century law that the Nazis had sharpened. | |
| Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1969, but the legislation was not taken off the books entirely until 1994. | |
| "We will never be able to eliminate completely these outrages by the state, but we want to rehabilitate the victims," Mr Maas said in a statement. "The homosexual men who were convicted should no longer have to live with the taint of conviction." | |
| 'Open wound' | 'Open wound' |
| For those with past convictions for being gay, the decision has been a long time coming. | For those with past convictions for being gay, the decision has been a long time coming. |
| In 2002, the government decided to overturn any convictions made during the Nazi period, but this did not include men convicted after the war. | In 2002, the government decided to overturn any convictions made during the Nazi period, but this did not include men convicted after the war. |
| Now a study commissioned by the Federal Anti-discrimination Agency has found the government is legally obliged to rehabilitate the men. | Now a study commissioned by the Federal Anti-discrimination Agency has found the government is legally obliged to rehabilitate the men. |
| The author, professor Martin Burgi, says all convictions must be overturned, and suggest compensation should be offered for educational projects. | The author, professor Martin Burgi, says all convictions must be overturned, and suggest compensation should be offered for educational projects. |
| The head of the Anti-discrimination Agency says she is happy with the results. Christine Luders says that the "open wound in the rule of law" will need to be healed. | The head of the Anti-discrimination Agency says she is happy with the results. Christine Luders says that the "open wound in the rule of law" will need to be healed. |
| Germany has allowed civil partnerships since 2001, and gay couples have the same tax status and adoption rights as married couples. | Germany has allowed civil partnerships since 2001, and gay couples have the same tax status and adoption rights as married couples. |
| Pressure is growing on the government to allow gay marriage, particularly after Ireland adopted it last year. | Pressure is growing on the government to allow gay marriage, particularly after Ireland adopted it last year. |