Comments on: Nation remembers victims of the Holocaust

By: Sister Mary Clarence

Sister Mary Clarence — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:31:00 +0000

This would appear to:While the police regarded lesbians as "asocials"–people who did not conform to Nazi norms and therefore could be arrested or sent to concentration camps–few were imprisoned because of their sexuality alone. The Nazis did not classify lesbians as homosexual prisoners, and only male homosexual prisoners had to wear the pink triangle. Though police arrests of lesbians were comparatively rare, the threat of persecution made living openly as a lesbian dangerous. Lesbians also suffered discrimination because of the Nazis' policy toward German women in general. Since the Nazis believed women should serve primarily as wives and mothers, they forced women out of prestigious careers. Paradoxically, labor demands brought on by rearmament and the war actually increased the number of working women, though they were relegated to work in low-paying jobs. The low wages set for women particularly affected lesbians, since lesbians were generally unmarried and could not rely on a husband's job for support. Economic hardships combined with ever-increasing social pressures and fear of arrest to make the lives of lesbians difficult even though sexual acts between females were not illegal in Nazi Germany.www.ushmm.grgHolocaust encyclopaedia

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By: Zeke

Zeke — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:53:00 +0000

Not to split hairs but there is no record of the Nazis arresting or exterminating a single woman for homosexuality. I've studied this topic extensively and no where did I find a single record or even a mention that lesbians were a target of the Nazi regime. In fact there was no law against female homosexuality in Germany prior to, during or after the Nazi regime. There are many reasons for this, most having to do with misogyny and misconceptions about women, sex and desire.If anyone can point me to evidence that this is not the case please share it with me. I would be interested in revisiting the study with evidence and documentation that I have previously missed.I know we get caught up in the idea that "GLBT" is a single identity and everything that happens to a G or an L or a B or a T happens to the entire GLBT community but it simply is not always the case.

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By: OMAR KUDDUS

OMAR KUDDUS — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:13:00 +0000

Least we ever forget, for they were the pioneer gay activists, who gave their lives for their beliefs and sexuality.We need to remember and learn and reflect from the genocides of the past and present, and make a conscious effort to prevent such atrocities occurring today or ever again.Intolerance, prejudice still exists, not only in the foreign states, especially In Iran, but also in the free west, and these need to be eradicated, so that society can move forward and live in harmony, irrespective of sexuality, religion or political belief.In the sates that still oppress and punish and persecute, torture and kill fellow homosexuals for their sexuality (Algeria, Angola , Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei, Botswana , Cameroon, Djibouti , Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia , Guinea, Guinea Bissau, India, Kenya , Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia , Libya , Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius , Morocco , Mozambique, Myanmar/Burma, Oman , Pakistan, Palestinian Authority (Gaza), Qatar ,.São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore , Sri Lanka ,Sudan , Syria ,Swaziland ,Tanzania , Togo , Tunisia , Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe ,) those in the free west, must make ourselves heard, and put pressure to stop such barbaric behaviour, that is totally unjustified and unacceptable.As individuals we can pressurise our own governments to stand up to these regimes and grant asylum, with compassion and tolerance to those who are fleeing persecution.Capital Punishment (Mauritania, Nigeria , Somalia, Iran , Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates , Yemen )is an inhuman retribution and contributes to the vain circle of violence and retaliation within society. Especially when totalitarian regimes use execution as a legitimate means to oppress, diminish and murder their minority groups.On the other hand, psychological side-effects of executions, in short and long terms, are damaging to the victims’ survivors as well as to the executers of the punishments. Add to this the fact that execution reduces society’s sensitivity against violence and violent behaviour. For the foundations of a civil society, for democracy and establishment of human rights, to respect the rights and the safety of alternative and freethinkers and to promote a non-violence culture, the omission of capital punishment is the first and foremost step. Sexuality is as important a fundamental right as all others and should be respected..

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