After a few false starts, the German government has confirmed that Danish-born Michael Elmgreen and Norwegian Ingar Dragset will construct a memorial for gay Holocaust victims. Like the nation’s other Holocaust memorials, the queer sculpture will be concrete. The original plan – a box like structure with a video loop of two men kissing – drew criticism for excluding lesbians. The new plan will include ladies. Of the $800,000 project German culture minister Bernd Neumann says:
With the installation of a memorial in the middle of our capital, the resolution by the German government to commemorate the homosexual victims of the Nazi regime is realized.
At least 44, 231 gays died under the Nazi’s monstrous “Master Plan”.
Paul Raposo
Glad to see that the victims who were victimized by other victims and their captures are finally getting the remembrance they deserve.
cjc
Uhm, not to start a shitstorm, but from what I’ve read looking into the Holocaust, gay men were specifically targeted for their sexuality, lesbians not so much (though some did die in the Holocaust, many were persecuted because of political beliefs, not necessarily because of their sexuality).
Graywolf48
I just don’t know what to say. My first reaction is, “too little, too late.” After watching the video titled ‘Paragraph 175’ and knowing that law was not repealed until 1969 just doesn’t give me a warm and fuzzy feeling for the Germans. What’s more, homophobia is still alive and well in Germany and the Neo-Nazi skinheads are experiencing a revival. I am of German heritage, but have no desire to ever visit Germany.
cjc
Graywolf, you took the words out of my mouth regarding Paragraph 175. Still, at least the nation is putting up better monuments to gays who were killed during the Holocaust than the existing ones–I believe there’s a non-descript plaque on a Berlin U-Bahn station and a small statue in Frankfurt am Main.
Qjersey
Several historical accounts report that lesbians, particularly “butch” “non-passing” lesbians were given a black triange which stood for “asocials.”
Regardless, I can say that visiting the Homomonument in Amsterdam touched me deeply. For those that have never been, it is just around the corner from the Anne Frank House & Museum, so its location adds emphasis to what the monument stand for. Also visiting both in one day…quite an emotional experience. I still keep a post card of the monument over my desk at work.
smgjsk
Give me a break – Germany is one of the most Gay friendly countries in Europe and has extended more rights to gay men and women – and if the American government ever thought of extending even a fraction of the rights the German Mo’s have we would live in an ideal world. How many times do the German people have to say Sorry for their past??? And EVERY holocaust Memorial in German pays respects to ALL its victims, jews, gypsies and even the mo’s.
Martini-boy
“Too little, too late”?
I’d say “better now than never.” Especially since, at least in North America (and I speak for Canada specifically), the discrimination of Nazi Germany (especially toward homosexuals and gypsies) is seldom mentioned or touched upon. Minus one point for us. At least this raises awareness: that is, if people want to acknowledge it.
To also say that “homophobia is still alive and well in Germany and the Neo-Nazi skinheads are experiencing a revival” is rather redundant. Homophobia exists in Germany as much as it does in the U.S. and Canada, and extremist nationalists (or anyone from the conservative right) help to promote this equally as much as skinheads do. You may as well be bashing every other country for this, Gray.
Since Germany has been placing monuments all around the country in memory of its Holocaust victims, I wonder when the U.S. will act as responsibly and start setting up monuments for victims of its own attacks (i.e. the American-funded Chilean coup [and subsequent massacres] of September 11, 1973). Just a thought…