First homosexual movement: Difference between revisions
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Groups of friends who shared homosexual feelings were organizing in German cities into more formal associations. In the nineteenth century, such associations were rare, but their popularity increased exponentially in the Weimar years.{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|pp=107–108}} Unlike the WhK, their primary purpose was not educational or political but providing social interaction and a sense of community for their members. The societies organized meetups, dinners, and parties, soon drawing thousands of Germans; by the mid-1920s there was at least one society in every German city.{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|pp=108–109}} On 20 August 1920, several of these societies united under the ''Deutsche Freundschafts-Verband'' (German Friendship Society, DFV).{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|p=109}} At this time, the word ''friend'' was a common euphemism for ''homosexual''.{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|p=153}}{{sfn|Crouthamel|2011|p=111}} In 1923, Berlin-based businessman [[Friedrich Radszuweit]] persuaded the organization to rename itself the [[Bund für Menschenrecht]] (League for Human Rights, BfM), and took control of it, establishing a centralized organization. By the end of the decade, membership had increased from 2,000 in 1922 to an estimated 48,000. The BfM's membership was mainly middle-class young men in their twenties and thirties, although it also appealed to some working-class men.{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|p=109}} Radszuweit also attempted to rescue the [[Theater des Eros]], a homosexual theater group, by folding it into the BfM, but this was unsuccessful.{{sfn|Senelick|2008|pp=12, 23, 27}} |
Groups of friends who shared homosexual feelings were organizing in German cities into more formal associations. In the nineteenth century, such associations were rare, but their popularity increased exponentially in the Weimar years.{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|pp=107–108}} Unlike the WhK, their primary purpose was not educational or political but providing social interaction and a sense of community for their members. The societies organized meetups, dinners, and parties, soon drawing thousands of Germans; by the mid-1920s there was at least one society in every German city.{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|pp=108–109}} On 20 August 1920, several of these societies united under the ''Deutsche Freundschafts-Verband'' (German Friendship Society, DFV).{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|p=109}} At this time, the word ''friend'' was a common euphemism for ''homosexual''.{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|p=153}}{{sfn|Crouthamel|2011|p=111}} In 1923, Berlin-based businessman [[Friedrich Radszuweit]] persuaded the organization to rename itself the [[Bund für Menschenrecht]] (League for Human Rights, BfM), and took control of it, establishing a centralized organization. By the end of the decade, membership had increased from 2,000 in 1922 to an estimated 48,000. The BfM's membership was mainly middle-class young men in their twenties and thirties, although it also appealed to some working-class men.{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|p=109}} Radszuweit also attempted to rescue the [[Theater des Eros]], a homosexual theater group, by folding it into the BfM, but this was unsuccessful.{{sfn|Senelick|2008|pp=12, 23, 27}} |
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These friendship associations and eventually the BfM were the first mass organizations for homosexuals.{{sfn|Marhoefer|2015|p=40}}{{sfn|Samper|2020|pp=4–5}} Their operation was very similar to the "Urning Union" that Ulrichs had proposed decades earlier, combining politics, entertainment, and practical support. The organization offered legal services to members facing employment disputes, blackmail, or criminal charges as part of its membership fee.{{sfn|Samper|2020|p=52}} Radszuweit's leadership, perceived as domineering, led to conflicts.{{sfn|Ramsey|2008|pp=101–102}}{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|p=111}} In 1925 some members seceded and reestablished the DFV. Although smaller than the BfM, the DFV helped increase the diversity of Weimar's homosexual publications.{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|p=111}} Despite its grassroots origins, the BfM relied on Radszuweit's media empire for growth but unity was difficult to achieve because regional groups wanted to run their own affairs according to local conditions. To keep better-educated homosexuals who might have been turned off by his more lowbrow publications, in 1925 Radszuweit purged ''[[Blätter für Menschenrecht]]'' of advertisements and sent it without an additional cost to all members of the BfM.{{sfn|Samper|2020|pp=47–48}} Radszuweit collected names to send them promotional material and encouraged people to leave the ''Blätter für Menschenrecht'' in [[streetcars]] or other public places to recruit more people into the movement.{{sfn|Samper|2020|p=56}} |
These friendship associations and eventually the BfM were the first mass organizations for homosexuals.{{sfn|Marhoefer|2015|p=40}}{{sfn|Samper|2020|pp=4–5}} Their operation was very similar to the "Urning Union" that Ulrichs had proposed decades earlier, combining politics, entertainment, and practical support. The organization offered legal services to members facing employment disputes, blackmail, or criminal charges as part of its membership fee.{{sfn|Samper|2020|p=52}} Radszuweit's leadership, perceived as domineering, led to conflicts.{{sfn|Ramsey|2008|pp=101–102}}{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|p=111}} In 1925 some members seceded and reestablished the DFV. Although smaller than the BfM, the DFV helped increase the diversity of Weimar's homosexual publications.{{sfn|Whisnant|2016|p=111}} Despite its grassroots origins, the BfM relied on Radszuweit's media empire for growth, but unity was difficult to achieve because regional groups wanted to run their own affairs according to local conditions. To keep better-educated homosexuals who might have been turned off by his more lowbrow publications, in 1925 Radszuweit purged ''[[Blätter für Menschenrecht]]'' of advertisements and sent it without an additional cost to all members of the BfM.{{sfn|Samper|2020|pp=47–48}} Radszuweit collected names to send them promotional material and encouraged people to leave the ''Blätter für Menschenrecht'' in [[streetcars]] or other public places to recruit more people into the movement.{{sfn|Samper|2020|p=56}} |
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====Lesbian and transvestite organizations==== |
====Lesbian and transvestite organizations==== |
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