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Gay Men and the Holocaust |
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| Gay Men and the Holocaust | ||
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by Gerald Libonati -
Special to the SGN The inverted pink triangle is now a popular symbol of Gay and Lesbian unity. But it had a much darker past. It was the symbol used in Nazi concentration camps to identify homosexual prisoners. While the Holocaust was primarily a stand against the Jews, Gay men and other minorities were also collected in Hitler's prisons. And each group had its own symbol. Hardcore criminals wore green triangles, Jehovah's Witnesses got purple, political prisoners wore red and anti-socials wore black. Jews, of course, got the double triangle - a yellow Star of David. Other symbols were added above or below the triangles to create a profile-at-a-glance. When the Holocaust ended, communists, socialists, gypsies and Jews received financial compensation, but Gay prisoners did not. In many countries Gay men were still considered disturbed or even criminal. So Gay survivors were less likely to talk about their ordeal than other survivors. Controversy still surrounds the inclusion of homosexuals in Holocaust memorials. But some institutions, like The Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York, have been more inclusive. "We do mention the Nazi persecution of homosexuals and their imprisonment in our permanent collection," said Betsy Aldredge, Public Relations Manager for the museum. She is referring to a display of the colored triangles and the groups they represent. Aldredge also says they are "looking for artifacts related to the persecution of homosexuals but they are rare." She can be contacted at the museum located at Edmond J. Safra Plaza, 36 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum based in Washington D.C. has assembled a traveling exhibit called "Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals 1933 - 1945." For information about hosting the exhibit contact Rena Opert at ropert@ushmm.org or call 202-314-0325. Holocaust Remembrance Day is April 21 and while no one would contest that Jews were the primary target of Nazi oppression, the Gay men and others who shared that tragedy should not be forgotten. Gerald Libonati is the author of the new novel Peter Wolfe, about a Gay rock star who has fame but wants love and goes incognito to find it. (Windstormcreative.com) Libonati is an award-winning journalist in South Florida. He has written for The Sun-Sentinel, The Miami Herald, The Advocate and Gay/Lesbian newspapers around the country. |
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