Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., May 07, 2008 Iyyar 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:29 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 22:52 06/05/2008 Germany honors gay rights activist and sex researcher persecuted by Nazis By The Associated Press Tags: gay rights, Nazis, Germany  BERLIN - Seventy-five years ago, the Nazis ransacked the offices of German sex-researcher and gay-rights activist Magnus Hirschfeld, seizing hundreds of books that were burned in a towering pyre four days later. To mark the day Tuesday, Berlin dedicated a stretch of the Spree River to Hirschfeld, while the city's Charite hospital opened a new exhibition of his work called Sex Burns. "The tributes to Hirschfeld are a clear acknowledgment for gays that a persecution has taken place and that reparation is necessary," said Alexander Zinn, head of Germany's Lesbian and Gay Association, at the dedication ceremony. Advertisement "That is a first step in the right direction," he said. Nazi Germany declared homosexuality an aberration that threatened the German race and convicted some 50,000 homosexuals as criminals. An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 homosexuals, mostly men, were deported to concentration camps, where few survived. Work is also underway in Berlin on an overall memorial to the Nazi's homosexual victims, which will be located in Berlin's Tiergarten Park, across from the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. The 600,000 eruo ($932,000) memorial, designed by Danish-born artist Michael Elmgreen, features a gray concrete slab with a window allowing visitors to view a film inside of same-sex couples kissing. Hirschfeld was a pioneer of research into sexuality and is seen as one of the most important figures in Germany who defended homosexual rights. Persecuted by the Nazi regime, he ended up in French exile where he died in 1935. He was out of the country on May 6, 1933, when the Nazis plundered and shut down his Institute for Sexual Research, and seized his books and other items. Urged on by the Nazi leadership, students around Germany burned many of those books and thousands of others deemed to be un-German on May 10. The event was a foreshadowing of the state censorship and iron-handed control of culture to come. A bust of Hirschfeld was also tossed by the Nazis into the flames, and the Berlin chapter of Zinn's organization is currently collecting money to try to recreate it. "Magnus Hirschfeld constantly tried to free the public from negative homosexual prejudices," said German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries at the dedication of the downtown riverbank. "His life work and his own fate show clearly how much aggression, injustice and prejudice homosexuals have had to deal with in Germany." The exhibition at the Charite hospital features the work of seven artists, each of whom focus on a different facet of Hirschfeld's research. Their exhibits feature parts of Hirschfeld's collection of notes, photographs posters and other material. Related articles: German TV stars taken off-air over Nazis references Shas MK blames gays for recent earthquakes in the region My big fat gay Jewish family Haaretz in 1932: Hitler makes better impression than expected Bookmark to del.icio.us   Raining on the parade World Likud chief calls for cancellation of Nakba Day procession. Perfect match TA court sentences 'DNA Rapist' to 25 years in prison.   1.   Thx Haaretz for the article, nothing is ever safe 23:36  |  Mark B. 06/05/08   2.   Freedom from negative homosexual prejudices 00:27  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/05/08   3.   The Last But Not Least Victims 01:30  |  Jane 07/05/08   4.   Where is your club? 03:22  |  Sarah Klein 07/05/08

Read & React PA official: No Israeli partner in light of latest Olmert probe Responses: 114 Moshe Arens: Is Olmert pushing for peace at any price? Responses: 73 Daphna Golan: When will we listen to the Palestinians' suffering? Responses: 208 Soldier killed in Lebanon War 'finally promoted to rank of Jew' Responses: 102 Rosner's Domain Why progressives don't like Israel (WTR) Poll: If Olmert is gone, who should be PM? The Democrats are fighting over Iran Carter is helping Hamas achieve their strategic goal How people die in Gaza? (WTR) More Headlines 00:47 IDF Chief: 63 years after Holocaust state's existence still questioned 00:41 Police: Gag order on probe against Olmert losing significance 23:45 PA official: No Israeli partner in light of latest Olmert probe 02:22 ANALYSIS: Gag order on PM case against public interest 02:51 Security tightens in face of Independence Day terror alerts 00:28 Fifth alternative Memorial Day ceremony held in Jerusalem 01:52 Fox clothing chain, Bar Rafaeli to fight IDF draft-dodgers 01:29 Foreign Ministry sending first aid package to Myanmar 02:54 Sderot will celebrate Israel's 60th, in spite of everything 19:24 Court orders state to explain why citizenship law won't be reversed 00:52 Israel at 60: Population nears 7.3 million, 76% Jewish Previous Editions Select Day 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr 28 apr 27 apr 25 apr 24 apr 23 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and world Jewry shaping the destiny of Israel and the Jewish people. Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer The interest rates haven't changed But your profits will! Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved