Gay burial plot to go ahead in Copenhagen cemetery

By Tony Grew • April 9, 2008 - 17:02

Each “gay“ space at the cemetery, which is run by the Copenhagen city authorities, costs £270. photo: Bob Jagendorf@flickr.com

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People that want to be buried next to others who were gay or lesbian have been granted their wish at a cemetery where author Hans Christian Andersen is buried.

Other famous people interned at the Assistens Kirkegård, which was founded in 1737 and is the largest in Copenhagen, include dozens of artists, musicians and writers.

Space for 45 urns, set apart from the rest of the cemetery by a triangle of pebbles on the ground, has been rented by a new group.

"We founded an association called Regnbuen (Rainbow) and our goal is that gays and lesbians can be buried next to each other," Ivan Larsen told AFP.

"The triangle is our old symbol, but it is also a sign of suffering.

"We don't want to isolate ourselves but we also feel a need to be together.

"We see this as a family grave, one that will be taken care of by our family."

During their reign of terror the Nazis forced gay men to wear a pink triangle on their clothes.

Each "gay" space at the cemetery, which is run by the Copenhagen city authorities, costs £270.

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