Q:alliance

There are two events in Milton Keynes taking place this Sunday (28th) in honour of LGBT History Month.

For the first event, Bletchley Park will be celebrating the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.

Q:alliance and Pink Punters have been working with Bletchley Park over the last year to co-ordinate this event. Amongst other things, the event will focus on the life and work of codebreaker Alan Turing during his time at Bletchley Park, with special lectures and films.

Alan Turing who was one of many great mathematical minds who worked at Bletchley Park during World War Two, and was also a gay man. He is recognised for his great intellect and for his contribution towards breaking the Enigma codes and the development of the Bombe machine, all of which helped to shorten the war by two years and save thousands of lives. Later of course, his sexuality was to be the cause of his downfall.

• The Wartime Achievements of Alan Turing at Bletchley Park – Frank Carter, a college lecturer in mathematics and a longtime guide and researcher at Bletchley Park.
• Why we need to claim our history – Tony Fenwick, co-founder and Chair of LGBT History Month.
• Local issues around LGBT History Month and Bletchley Park – John Goss from Q:alliance, which provides information, support, representation and fun for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who live, work and play in the Milton Keynes area.

Stephen Kettle the Sculptor of the famous Alan Turing slate Statue will also be at Bletchley Park throughout the day talking about his famous creation.

A selection of films will be shown in the Bletchley Park Enigma Cinema, plus a documentary about the life of Alan Turing.

Dr Andrew Hodges, esteemed authority on Alan Turing, will be our special guest and will also be available to sign copies of his book, ‘Alan Turing; the Enigma’”

Visitors can also see the office in which Alan Turing worked in Hut 8 and the Bombe machine, designed by Turing with Gordon Welchman to speed up the process of breaking the Enigma codes.

The Pink Punters Rainbow Bus will also be on site throughout the day

In addition, later that evening Vagabond Cinema in collaboration with Pink Punters  are screening the amazing film Milk starring Sean Penn.

This is the story of Harvey Milk, and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California’s first openly gay elected official.

Tickets for this one are on first come first served basis. Doors open at 5.15pm Screening starts at 6pm and the bar will be open. More details on Facebook.