German gay convictions to be overturned

Germany is to overturn convictions of gay men who were prosecuted for their sexuality under historic laws.

Homosexuality did not become fully legal in Germany until 1994, and existing convictions were never lifted. Thousands of German men still live with criminal records for being gay more than 20 years later.

“The historic convictions are wrong. They are deeply hurtful to human dignity,” Heiko Maas, the justice minister, said.