The Punishment of Homosexuality in Germany
As the Nazis rose to power, they constructed strict laws regarding male homosexuality for many reasons. The Nazis were primarily concerned with preserving and reproducing people of pure German blood. Consequently, in order to catalyze the purification of the German population, the Nazis sterilized those who were not fit to reproduce and forced those who were fit to procreate. The Nazis wanted all able men and women to produce and bear offspring, however homosexual males would not take part in the male role of reproduction because of their sexual orientation. As a result, many of Germany’s two million male homosexuals were imprisoned and/or incinerated for their homosexual acts and desires. In order to further cultivate the population of Aryans, the Nazis tried to construct a heterosexual society by creating or revising new laws and documents that aimed to discriminate male homosexuals. This goal of discrimination was an attempt to decline the rate of male homosexuality in order to persuade able men in becoming heterosexual and produce children to support the Volksgemeinschaft.
Although female homosexuals existed in Germany, they were not targeted and discriminated against like male homosexuals. Male homosexuality posed a greater threat to the Nazis because it was considered to be a waste of procreation for men to be gay. It also posed a greater threat because it went against “man’s nature-given position” to woman. Male homosexuality was also far more hazardous because it posed a moral threat to the German “Volk” and its morals. In the report “Attacks on Morality” presented in the Humanities Core Course Reader (270-273), Prof. Dr Wenzeslaus Graf von Gleispac...
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...e fit to produce into reproduction.
The Nazis goal of producing a pure bred German blood race contained problems not only with the Jews, but also with the homosexuals within the nation. The homosexuals were going against everything the Nazis wanted. Because they were homosexual, they were not able to procreate due to their sexual orientation. Along with their lack of procreating, they attacked the morals of the “Volk” and degraded the nation’s image. They didn’t want to produce offspring to preserve the nation and was only concerned about their own pleasure. They also made Germans appear frail and sickening. Because of this, the Nazis had to find a way to keep homosexuals from their nation. And in order to do so, the Nazis created and revised strict laws to rid the nation of male homosexual activity to fulfill the ideals of the Volksgemeinschaft.
Günter Grau’s article on “Gay and lesbian Persecution in Germany” from 1933 to 45 presents the detailed view of the treatment of homosexuals and the lesbians during the Nazi government period. The author tries to highlight the actions that were taken during the Socialist regime of Hitler due to their extra emphasis on the socialism. Therefore, the article also presents the analysis of the speech of the German army general Josef Meisinger to combat homosexuality during the period between World War I and ...
Both the Nazi Political Movemen,t in Germany, and the post World War II/Cold War attacks on homosexuals, were driven by similar goals. The Nazi movement arose after Germany had lost World War 1 and was being restricted heavily by the Treaty of Versailles. The country faced major inflation and extremely high unemployment rates. The Nazi party came to power and targeted homosexuals in their push to cleanse the country because homosexuals could not reproduce to add more followers to their movement, and also because they were afraid that homosexuals would draw other young men from reproducing. Later in the movement, in 1936, Himmler labeled homosexuals as a threat to the German race (Plant). After that, it was not about population growth; homosexuality was seen as an active threat to the Germans. The Nazis aimed to clean up the mess Germany was experiencing after the first World War and saw homosexuality as a symptom of societal moral decay and as a threat to the growth of their movement.
The Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre is dedicated to preserving the memory of all those who suffered, because of the eradication of those who did not fit Hitler’s vision of a ‘master Aryan race’.The Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre brought in a travelling exhibit, as a way to bring awareness to the unprecedented suffering caused by this horrific genocide.The Nazis Persecution of Homosexuals exhibit is a travelling exhibition created by the United States Holocaust Museum, that examines the persecution and violence towards the homosexuals of Germany. The Nazi’s saw homosexuals as an “infection or epidemic, that would weaken German survival” (Holocaust Museum Brochure). “ Through the active and relentless persecution of German homosexuals, the Nazi State attempted to terrorize German homosexuals into sexual and social conformity, leaving thousands dead and shattering the lives of many more” (Holocaust Museum Brochure). The persecution of homosexuals began with the “closing of same-sex bars and clubs” (Holocaust Museum Brochure) and ended with imprisonment in internment camps and medical procedures. There was no escape from the persecution and violence that was inflicted upon German homosexuals. “Many were forced to conceal their homosexuality, some choosing to marry women, and others picked suicide” (Holocaust Museum Brochure).The Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals exhibit brings awareness to an issue that for many years was over looked. Years after the Holocaust ended homosexuals in Germany “continued to face legal and social prohibitions that hindered official recognition that homosexuals were victims of Nazi persecution” (Holocaust Museum Brochure). It was not until May of 1985 that,“homosexuals murdered by the Nazis receive...
Proper respect for others begins by a person respecting their self. Respect is developed by expressing honor, leadership, value, and trust in a person. If everyone respects everyone someday, the world will become a seventh heaven. It is important to be respectful for safety, to abide by the law, because children are influenced by their elders’ actions, and because God says so. Motivation from peers can help a person realize there is always room to improve the level of respect a person exhibits. Respect was, is, and always will be a positive attribute for everyone to strive for in their lives.
Although homophobia exists in nearly all societies, Russia has recently gained notoriety for its intolerance of homosexual behavior. In a world that is becoming more and more accepting and tolerant of homosexuality, Russia seems to be moving backward when it comes to LGBTQ rights, existing in a tightly conservative macrosystem. Many Russian’s hold a constructionist view of homosexuality, meaning outside forces are responsible for influencing “untraditional” behaviors, rather than the contemporary essentialist view, meaning homosexuality is an inborn trait (Welch, 146). Understandably, Russia’s tumultuous political past must be a strong contributor to today’s attitudes towards homosexuality and other sexual orientations. Under the Tsars, homosexuality was a crime punishable by imprisonment or death, after Lenin came to power after the October Revolution, homosexuality was decriminalized and homosexuals were allowed to hold office in the newly formed Soviet Union. However, as anti-gay laws were enacted by Stalin, homosexuals were seen as a “danger to the state” and sent to prisons and forgot about. After the glasnost, Yeltsin under pressure from the Council of Europe, legalized homosexuality in 1993. But under Putin, homosexuals have been under fire due to a series of anti-gay propaganda laws and an increasingly homophobic Russia society; this is due to the increase of influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, the effect the media has on the populace as controlled by the hegemony, and the use of homosexuality as a scapegoat of Russia’s problems.
The term “homosexuality” is a taboo for many while it does not exist for others. Impending wars, terror attacks, natural calamities, the world is under a great threat and so is humanity. People tend to forget or rather neglect the plea of the so called ‘minority’ community. Around the globe we can see the increasing awareness among the people but it is also a fact that gender based hate-attacks are also on the rise. To understand homosexuality is also to understand the workings of nature and its historical evidence.
The background of homosexuality in the 1940’s and 50’s was harsh, but people started to be opened toward the rights. There were criticisms toward homosexuality in the early days of Milk. Gay men carried the labels of mentally ill or psychopathic. Often times, gay men committed suicide from harsh judgement and criticism that always followed them. Even though population of homosexuality grew and had jobs, they were harassed and beaten by the police. There were a lot of disapproval and hostility of homosexuality. Anita Bryant, a singer, made a campaign to oppose the rights of homosexuals. Christian forces and activists withdrew gay-right legislation which lead to Proposition 6. The harshness from background of homosexuality back in the 1940’s and 50’s took the freedom away from the homosexuals. After the harshness, there came a little bit of hope for the homosexuals in San Francisco. Castro, a city in San Francisco, became the center of gay neighborhood. In 1964, gay men formed Society of Individual Right (SIR), and 1,200 members joined. Homosexuals started having good views when Sipple who was gay saved the president from a gunshot. Finally in 1972, Board of Supervisor banned the discrimination law for homosexuals. Even though in 1940...
Gross had to both strengthen ethnic consciousness among the non-convinced German public, and prepare the already radical Nazis for even more radical measures. He infused public culture with knowledge of the “inferior” races, in attempt to make them adopt and support Nazi racist policies. This would make up nearly the entire population, making it unlikely for any German not to have been affected by the activities of Gross and his office. When writing or speaking to hardcore Nazis, he would lash out at Jews, convinced that they were the blame for the Great War, Germany’s defeat, and the Weimar democracy, which smothered German culture. In the early Nazi period, when confronting the public, he would adjust his rhetoric to a broader, non-antisemitic tone. In a radio speech given the day on which a sterilization law was approved, he explained racial policy as a “moral crusade for purity against the corrosive egotism of liberal philosophy.” He then outlined his three pronged approach against breeding amongst the fit and unfit, uncontrolled childbearing, and racial mixing. At this point, he did so without mentioning the word Jew. The Nazi media received Gross’s speech very well, shifting public opinion and allowing him to further radicalize his
...was not the biggest concern of the Nazi Party because male homosexuals would not be reproducing.
The Nuremberg Law defines a “Jew” to someone with three or four Jewish grandparents. In 1935 at Nuremberg, the Nazi announced new laws which regulates many of the issues and racial theories common in Nazi beliefs. September 15 1935, Nuremberg laws are introduced as the Nazi laws are revoking Reich Citizens for jews, prohibiting Jews from marrying or having any sexual relations with any German or related blood. Another law that was introduced was New Marriage Requirements at October 18 1935, this laws was made for protection of “Hereditary Health of the German People” it requires all prospective marriage partners to obtain authorities or a certificate of fitness to marry. The following months, November 14 1935, the Nazi decided to expand the law to other groups on marriage or sexual relations between people who can produce rare suspect offspring. More and more laws were plated that effectively banished Jews from most areas of public. Antisemitism was followed through into ruthless, legislation expelling Jews from Germany social and political
Disrespect is everywhere. It can be out in the open or invisible, but it's out there. People can be
The rattling story of Joseph told of a man who must struggle with the most horrid betrayal from his family in which he learned to forgive them and even helped them flourish in later life. Justified by a need to make them properly atone for their sins, Joseph put his brothers through hell and back. In the end, Joseph ended up feeling happier for reconnecting with his family and saving them from the ominous hands of the famine that plagued Canaan. Although it may seem that the Bible suggests exonerating those who have deeply wronged one shows weakness and too much leniency, forgiveness allows one to become a stronger person and allow for the restoration of bonds amongst once-close companions.
The ideas put forth in Marshall McLuhan's Media Hot and Cold, present many theories regarding the effects of media on the world. What qualifies as media, in essence, is any experience or information, imparted on the awareness of an individual and/or societies. These can be physical or nonphysical influences. TV and radio are examples of physical media. Their effects and evolution can be easily observed. However, and perhaps more importantly, McLuhan examines those nonphysical influences which can be observed in the individual and society. It is not enough to merely identify these mediums as such. What is more crucial is the perpetual waxing and waning of influence of such ineffable phenomena, whose identity and existence rely upon their interdependency
The memory describes as the mental capacity to retain and revive visual, auditory and physical information (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). Through this, one is able to remember facts, events, impressions and many past experiences (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). There are three components to the memory. These are the sensory memory, short-term memory and the long-term memory (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). The sensory stage is where all types of stimuli are registered and processed (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). Depending on the amount of attention and importance placed in the incoming information, will determine whether the information will enter the short-term memory (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). This describes the encoding phase that takes place in the short-term memory stage where the brain converts the information into a form in order for it to be contained for a later stage (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). Owing to the limited space in the short-term memory, all information and stimuli that enters through here are subject to decay and further forgotten (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). Only through emphasis and repetition will the information enter and stay in the long-term memory (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). This is where the storage phase takes place w...
There are different gender identities such as male, female, gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual that exist all around the world. There is inequality in gender identities and dominance of males regardless of which sexuality they fall under. The males are superior over the females and gays superior over the lesbians, however it is different depending on the place and circumstances. This paper will look at the gender roles and stereotypes, social policy, and homosexuality from a modern and traditional society perspective. The three different areas will be compared by the two different societies to understand how much change has occurred and whether or not anything has really changed.