At last night’s Oscars, Graham Moore, who won Best Adapted Screenplay for The Imitation Game, gave a speech that ventured away from the “I’d like the thank my agent, publicist, lawyer, etc.” fare that audiences normally get during the ceremony.
Moore used his time on stage to speak about depression and suicide, which were major themes in The Intimidation Game. The film told the story of Alan Turing, the British mathematician who helped solve the Enigma Code during World War II. He would later plead guilty to gross indecency over his relationship with another man as homosexual acts were criminal offenses in Britain at the time.
Turing was given the choice of either going to prison or probation and hormonal treatments to curb his homosexual tendencies. He chose the latter, and as a result became impotent. He committed suicide just 16 days before his 42nd birthday.
During his acceptance speech, Moore said:
“I tried to commit suicide at 16, and now I’m standing here. I would like for this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere. You do. Stay weird, stay different, and then when it’s your turn and you are standing on this stage, please pass the same message along.”
Watch Moore’s full speech.
