GERMANY: Memorial to homosexuals persecuted under the National Socialist regime in Germany is unveiled

Record ID: 277154

  • Title: GERMANY: Memorial to homosexuals persecuted under the National Socialist regime in Germany is unveiled
  • Date: 31st May 2008
  • Summary: (L!1) BERLIN, GERMANY (MAY 27, 2008) (REUTERS) MAN TAKING PHOTO OF MEMORIAL SIDE VIEW OF MEMORIAL PEOPLE CLAPPING INSIDE ROOM WHERE NEWS CONFERENCE IS BEING HELD PEOPLE LISTENING TO SPEECH MAN WITH HIS ARM AROUND ANOTHER MAN LISTENING TO SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (German) FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONER FOR CULTURE AND MEDIA BERND NEUMANN SAYING: "We are stunned by the brutality
  • Embargoed: 15th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: History
  • Reuters ID: LVA63JB8STNSBAWCO5G8BXKVDBJG
  • Story Text: The German government has unveiled a new memorial dedicated to homosexuals persecuted under the national socialist regime.
    The memorial is situated at the edge of Berlin's famous Tiergarten, close the the Brandenburg Gate and within walking distance from the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe which was opened in 2005.
    The government decided to erect the new memorial in December 2003 and on Tuesday (May 27), more than 60 years after Nazi rule ended in Germany, it was presented to the public.

    "We are stunned by the brutality which the National Socialists used to threaten, persecute and kill all of those who didn't comply with their inhuman ideologies," said Bernd Neumann, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media, at a news conference.
    When they were in power, the National Socialists put a law into place making homosexuality illegal. Thousands of homosexual men were sent to concentration camps by the Nazis, many of whom did not survive.
    According to the government, the new memorial is meant to honour those who were murdered during the Nazi regime. It it also meant to keep the memory of injustice alive as well as act as a symbol against intolerance, hostility and the exclusion of gay men and lesbians.

    "I think that the form of expression is appropriate. A pillar was taken from the Holocaust memorial and I think it shows that we are equal and that there is no hierarchy between the victims," said Pierre-Andre Rosselet, Vice-President of the Swiss Gay Organisation 'Pink Cross'.
    Berlin's openly gay mayor Klaus Wowereit also attended the event and said that even today much more needs to be done to stop discrimination against homosexuals.

    "There are still regular incidents of not only verbal abuse but physical attacks against gay couples or against homosexuals. And we should always be vigilant. Nothing happens on its own. Even if we are much further legally today, there is unfortunately still lots of discrimination."
    The memorial was designed by the Danish artist Michael Elmgreen and Norwegian artist Ingar Dragset. It was financed by the budget of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media.
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