the British were chemically castrating gay people in the 50's
Very good point, and in fact you wouldn't have to go far form your front door in the UK to find someone who thinks it should still be going on today. This is something that people forget very quickly. For example we can look at a country and say "why the hell don't women have the vote, that's just daft." well look up just how long women here have had the vote in the UK and you'll find it's possibly within your grandparents' lifetime and certainly within your great grandparents' (1928 btw, if wikipeadia is right). Attitudes to things like equality and sexuality take generations to change, mostly that's the fault of our own taboo-ing of subjects but also it's simply a case of societal momentum.
doesn't make the decision any easier for the 2 guys being jailed of course.