Alan Turing's acceptance of chemical castration by "organo-therapy" as an alternative to prison time after his conviction for gross indecency with another man always seemed a bit odd to me.

What were the ideas about masculinity, homosexuality, and the punishment or treatment thereof that were held by British people at the time and made this seem like a reasonable way to handle men who performed homosexual acts? How would the doctors and lawmakers who designed this response have explained why they thought it was appropriate? What was their desired outcome?

Was the idea to simply curb all sexual desire? Did they think it would turn people heterosexual? Why use a biologically feminizing procedure to address what I (perhaps incorrectly) assume was viewed as a problem with masculinity? Was it in part an attempt to feminize the men further and thereby shame them publicly (the medical equivalent of calling them "Nancy boys")? Were there similar "treatments" for homosexual women?

Edit: I have no idea what happened with my capitalization in the title. Stupid itchy shift-finger.