MI6 chief apologizes for `unjust' gay spy ban

The head of Britain's MI6 spy agency has apologized for the “misguided, unjust and discriminatory” ban on gay spies, 30 years after the restriction was lifted.

Richard Moore, the head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, apologized on Twitter for the treatment of LGBTQ staff and potential candidates before the governmentwide security ban was lifted in 1991.

Same-sex relationships were decriminalized in Britain in 1967. However, it took more than two decades before the security bar to LGBTQ individuals serving in any of the British intelligence agencies was rescinded.

Moore said this was down to a “misguided view that they would be more susceptible to blackmail than straight people.” He added: “Because of this policy … loyal and patriotic people had their dreams of serving their country in MI6 shattered. This was wrong, unjust and discriminatory.

“Today, I apologize on behalf of MI6 for the way our LGBT colleagues and fellow citizens were treated and express my regret to those whose lives were affected.”

MI6 did not put a figure on how many people were likely to have been affected by the ban, due to the organization's security policy regarding the disclosure of staff numbers.

Prior to 1991, MI6 would not allow LGBTQ staff to work for them and prevented LGBTQ applicants from joining. Although the issue of sexual preference is still raised in security vetting interviews for prospective MI6 employees, as well as staff in regular reviews, the information is used only to understand better an individual's close relationships.

The most famous casualty of the ban was Alan Turing, who worked at Bletchley Park during the Second World War and played a critical part in cracking the German Enigma codes.

It is estimated his work shortened the war in Europe by more than two years and saved more than 14-million lives. However, his homosexuality saw him barred from working with GCHQ after the war.

Turing died from suicide in 1954 and only received a pardon in 2009.