Germany Will Pay More Than $33M to Convicted Gay Men

The German government will formally introduce a law that will raise $33 million (30 million euros) to compensate gay men who were tried and convicted for their sexuality.

Justice Minister Heiko Maas announced in May that the convictions of some 50,000 gay men would be overturned. Now, a formal bill is headed to the German parliament to establish the fund and how the men can apply for compensation.

Homosexuality was illegal in Germany since the country's founding in 1871. The Nazi regime strengthened the penalties for homosexual behavior and sent gay men and women to concentration camps during World War II.

While the WWII convictions have been overturned, this bill would be the first in Germany to rehabilitate gay men convicted after the war.