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Paragraph 175 Paragraph 175 Verbotene Liebe im 20. Jahrhundert Ein Schulbuchkapitel für den Geschichtsunterricht an Gymnasien (empfohlen für die Sekundarstufe I, Klasse 10) von Marek Dippold und Simon Leisterer Fotografie eines Homosexuellen zu Forschungszwecken kurz vor der Zwangskastration, um 1940 Mindestens 5% aller Männer und Frauen sind homosexuell - so das Ergebnis wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen. Weil man das insbesondere bei Männern nicht akzeptieren wollte oder konnte, wurde jahrzehntelang in Deutschland mit dem §175 des Strafgesetzbuches schwule Liebe verboten und verfolgt. Männliche Homosexualität galt als Krankheit und ihre Ausübung als Verbrechen, das mit Gefängnis und zeitweilig sogar mit dem Tod bestraft wurde. Paragraph 175 Verbotene Liebe im 20. Jahrhundert Dieses Kapitel soll aufzeigen, wie sehr sich der Paragraph auf das Leben schwuler Männer in den verschiedenen politischen Systemen auswirkte, wie er sich wandelte, aber auch wie die Diskriminierung schließlich weitgehend überwunden wurde. DER §175 IM KAISERREICH UND IN DER WEIMARER REPUBLIK § 175 Die widernatürliche Unzucht, welche zwischen Personen männlichen Geschlechts oder von Menschen mit Thieren begangen wird ist mit Gefängniß zu bestrafen; auch kann auf Verlust der bürgerlichen Ehrenrechte erkannt werden. (1871-1935) Magnus Hirschfeld Eine Wissenschaft formiert sich Aufgepasst! Seit seiner Einführung war der §175 in Der §175 hatte einen erheblichen Politik und Wissenschaft umstritten. Einfluss auf das alltägliche Leben der 1897 wurde in Berlin von Dr. Magnus Homosexuellen, da sie durch ein offenes Hirschfeld das Wissenschaftlich- Ausleben ihrer Sexualität ins Visier der humanitäre Komitee und 1919 das Polizei und in öffentlichen Verruf ge- rieten. Doch solange man sich nicht beim Institut für Sexualwissenschaft ge- gründet. Dieses hatte die Absicht, Geschlechtsverkehr ertappen ließ, durch eine wissenschaftlich begründete konnte einem kein Prozess gemacht Argumentation gegen den §175 werden. Das hieß aber auch: Vorsicht bei Zeitschriften für Homosexuelle, vorzugehen. Hirschfeld versuchte die der Partnerwahl! Homosexuelle waren 1924 Idee des Dritten Geschlechts, welche eine leicht erpressbare Bevölkerungs- Homosexualität als natürliches Phäno- gruppe, da sie immer damit rechnen Petition men ansah, in die Öffentlichkeit zu mussten, beim Staat von jemand (lat. petitio „Bitt- bringen. anderem angeschwärzt zu werden. schrift“) In unserem Viele berühmte Personen sympa- Fall wird die Regierung um die thisierten mit Hirschfelds Forderungen. Berlin als Magnet Aufhebung des §175 Mehrere Petitionen wurden für die In der Anonymität von Metropolen wie gebeten. Abschaffung des Paragraphen dem Berlin konnten sich Homosexuelle Damit eine Petition Reichstag vorgelegt unterschrieben sicherer fühlen als auf dem Land. Ein – dem Parlament vor- von berühmten Persönlichkeiten wie Zeitgenosse zählte bereits vor dem gelegt werden kann, Thomas Mann und August Bebel. Doch Ersten Weltkrieg mehr als 40 Lokale, die müssen vorher einige keine erhielt die erforderliche Mehrheit. als Treffpunkte von Schwulen und Les- Bedingungen, wie ben galten. Eines war das Eldorado. Dort zum Beispiel eine Mindestzahl von trafen sich Menschen verschiedenster Gesellschaftsgruppen in der Regel Unterschriften, erfüllt – sein. verkleidet, um nicht erkannt zu werden. Q2 Das Eldorado in Berlin links: Innenansicht, 1920 rechts: Außenansicht, 1932 3 DER §175 IM KAISERREICH UND IN DER WEIMARER REPUBLIK Q3 Die widernatürliche Unzucht erhitzt die Gemüter a) Vo „ideratürlicher Uzucht“ ist die Rede. […] b) Der Kapf u § 175 […] ist scho seit iele Jahre Der Begriff der Widernatürlichkeit ist ein Unbegriff. […] von gewisser Seite zielbewußt und nachdrücklich Eteder existiert ei „Naturgesetz“, ach elche geführt orde. […] Eie Reihe ahafter Gelehrter, die sexuelle Anziehung sich bloß zwischen Küstler, Literate hat […] eier Dekschrift ihre Verschiedengeschlechtigen vollziehen kann: dann ist Unterschrift gegeben, in der das Verlangen nach Homosexualität unmöglich; oder Homosexualität Beseitigung der Strafbestimmung für die existiert: dann ist ein solches Naturgesetz unmöglich. widernatürliche Unzucht mit ethischen, sozialen, Es ist völlig verdreht und im Grunde urkomisch, zu historischen Gründen als berechtigt nachzuweisen behaupten, daß irgendwelche Vorgänge einem versucht wird. Diese Schrift darf nicht unwidersprochen Naturgesetze „zuiderliefe“. […] bleiben. Nicht Abbau des dem Volk verbliebenen Restes Auszug aus: § 175. Die Schmach des Jahrhunderts!, 1922 o Sittlichkeit […] tut de Volke ot; sittliche Kräftigung und Erhebung kann allein es rette. […] Auszug aus: § 175 muß bleiben!, 1927 D1 Verurteilungen aufgrund des § 175 wegen Q4 Karikatur aus einer antisemitischen Wochenzeitung Homosexualität im Kaiserreich Jahr Verurteilte 1888 353 1898 533 1908 658 921 1918 118 1928 804 aus: H.-G. Stümke, Homosexuelle in Deutschland, 1989 Q5 Erinnerungen des Arbeiters Erich (1900-1986) Es gab wohl keine Berufsgruppe in den zwanziger Jahren, die auf den berühmten Tuntenbällen in den großen Berliner Ballsälen nicht vertreten war. Wir „eifache Jugs“ […] ließen uns Sekt von derben, fluchenden Taxifahrern und Zimmerleuten servieren. Daß die harten Zimmermänner und Taxifahrer am Der Stürmer, Juli 1929 nächsten Tag ihre Kluft mit einer Richterrobe oder einem Arztkittel tauschten, gehörte zu den Verrücktheiten des Milieus. Aus: Jürgen Lemke, Ganz normal anders Fragen und Anregungen: 1. Du bist Journalist für eine Homosexuellenzeitschrift. Schreibe eine Reportage über einen Abend im Eldorado und eine Person an deinem Tisch (Q2, Q5). 2. Vergleiche die verschiedenen Standpunkte zum §175 in Q3! Wie wird jeweils argumentiert? 3. Untersuche D1! Worauf lassen die Zahlen der Verurteilungen schließen? 4. Zeige anhand der Karikatur Q4 auf, inwiefern der Streit um den §175 nicht nur einer um die Verfolgung von Homosexuellen war. 5. Erich erzählt von seinen Erlebnissen von vor rund neunzig Jahren. Könnte der Text auch aus unserer Zeit stammen? 4 DER §175 IM NATIONALSOZIALISMUS § 175 (1) Ein Mann, der mit einem anderen Mann Unzucht treibt oder sich von ihm zur Unzucht mißbrauchen läßt, wird mit Gefängnis bestraft. […] (1935-1969) Erste Wellen der Gewalt Juristische Ausweitung Bereits kurz nach der sog. 1935 wurde auch offiziell der §175 Machtergreifung 1933 fanden immer verschärft und mit der Gründung der wieder brutale Razzien vor allem Reichszentrale zur Bekämpfung der gegen Hirschfelds Institut für Homosexualität und Abtreibung ein Sexualwissenschaft aber auch gegen Jahr später die Verfolgung institu- viele Treffpunkte, Lokale und Vereine tionalisiert. Darin wurden die Karteien Hitler und Röhm beim Reichsparteitag 1933 der Homosexuellen statt. aller polizeilich bekannten Schwulen Besonders pikant in dieser ersten zu Rosa Listen mit zehntausenden Phase war, dass auch der langjährige Verdächtigen zusammengefasst. Und die Frauen? Die Bestrafung weib- SA-Chef Ernst Röhm, der mit seiner licher Homosexualität gefährlichen Schlägertruppe maß- Zunehmender Terror wurde zwar erwogen, geblich zur Machtergreifung der Mit Kriegsbeginn wurde männliche sie blieb jedoch NSDAP beitrug, ein sog. Hundert- Homosexualität aus Furcht vor „Ver- straffrei: Der Zweck fünfundsiebziger war, also als homo- seuchung“ noch schärfer geahndet: des §175 sei „doch nur sexuell galt. Als Röhm und einige Schwule wurden statt in Gefängnisse der Schutz der Zeu- weitere hochrangige Personen Anfang nun direkt in Konzentrationslager ein- gungsfähigkeit. Die 1934 Hitler zu mächtig geworden gewiesen, in denen sie schwere Arbeit Frau ist – anders als der Mann – stets schienen, wurde seine Homo- verrichten sowie Kastration oder geschlechtsbereit“, so sexualität genutzt, um ihn zu verun- lebensgefährliche „Umpolungs- der NS-Justiz-minister glimpfen. Gleichzeitig streute man Experimente“, wie die des SS-Arztes Thierack 1934. Gerüchte über einen Putschversuch Carl Vaernet, fürchten mussten. Röhms. Er wurde schließlich am 1. „In besonders schweren Fällen“ oder Juli 1934 auf Befehl Hitlers wenn Mitglieder von SS und Polizei umgebracht. betroffen waren, wurde seit 1941 auch sofort die Todesstrafe verhängt. Q2 Das Eldorado, März 1933 Nie zuvor oder danach forderte der ©bpk §175 so viele Opfer wie zur NS-Zeit: allein von 1933 bis 1943 wurden mehr als 52000 Männer verurteilt, rund 10000 kamen ins Konzen- trationslager, von denen mehr als die Hälfte nicht überlebten. 5 DER §175 IM NATIONALSOZIALISMUS Q3 Karikatur einer deutschen Exilzeitung Q4 Experiment gelungen! Vorläufige Resultate: . Mit der Iplatatio der „küstlihe älihe Sexualdrüse“ hat a ei de Patiete , ud die gewünschten Resultate erzielt – eine Umstimmung von homosexuell zum normalen Sexualtrieb. 2. Bei ihnen findet man jetzt statt einer stark ausgesprochenen Depression Optimismus und Zuersiht zu der Existez. [… ] 3. Die körperlichen Kräfte sind bedeutend besser und die Ermüdbarkeit geringer. 4. Der Schlaf ist besser. 5. Sie sehen besser aus. Die anderen Häftlinge haben auch darauf aufmerksam gemacht. 6. Patient Nr. 5 bittet eindringlich um eine „Pariser Tageblatt“, . Juli 1 Iplatatio, „dait er es eeso gut ie die adere hat“. Bericht von Dr. Carl Vaernet an Heinrich Himmler, 30.10.1944 Q5 Die Toteninsel Hochwürdiger Herr Reichsbischof, […] In dem letzten halben Jahre werden in Berlin und im ganzen Reiche Razzien auf Homosexuelle oder als hoosexuell Verdähtigte geaht. […] Noh iel Q6 Homosexueller Häftling mit dem Rosa Winkel furhtarer aer ist […] die Behadlug der Ihaftierte i sogen. Kolumbia-Haus,Erich, 1900 das-1986, man Arbeiterschon in Berlin
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