“The Imitation Game” follows the real life tale of British cryptanalyst Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberpatch) who helped solve the Enigma code during WW2, but was persecuted after for his homosexuality.

The film is both a critical and commercial success, grossing over $139 million on a budget of $7 million making it the highest grossing independent film of 2014. In particular, Cumberpatch has received much critical praise for his performance as Turing, having been nominated for numerous awards including a Best Actor nomination for the upcoming Oscars.

Not only has Cumberpatch been nominated for an Oscar, the film has also received seven other nominations that include Best Director for Morten Tyldum and Best Picture.

The film also gained attention from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) who has led an Oscar campaign for the film as well as started a campaign for 49,000 other men that were prosecuted for what was called “gross indecency” back in the mid ‘1900s, which saw men that were openly gay being persecuted for their sexual orientation.

Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1967, but it took until 2001 for age of consent between gay men to equalized in 2001. Despite this support, many have felt that “The Imitation Game” basically danced around the homosexual life of Turing and the support of the HRC is undeserving.

This would not mark the first time a film has used political agendas to tie in with the Oscars, the 2012 romantic drama “Silver Linings Playbook” was linked with mental health legislation. The 2008 drama “Milk” starring Sean Penn featured a plot about the first openly gay male to be elected as a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1977 only to be gunned down the following year. The film advocated for gay rights and equality.

Despite the controversy surrounding the film, Cumberpatch voiced his support for gay rights and signed a petition that would pardon 49,000 of people charged with “gross indecency” which 15,000 are still alive are apparently still seen as criminals.

When asked about the petition during an interview with “Out Magazine,” Cumberpatch said, “It’s an insult for anybody of authority or standing to sign off on [Turing] with their approval and say, ‘Oh, he’s forgiven.’” Cumberbatch added, “The only person who should be [doing the] forgiving is Turing, and he can’t because we killed him. And it makes me really angry. It makes me very angry.”

With “American Sniper” taking up plenty of the controversy space before the Oscars, “The Imitation Game” has now taken up what little space there is and has plenty of people paying attention.  Whatever happens on Oscar night, the message is clear on where “The Imitation Game” stands on gay rights.