The Gay Experience Schwules Museum Berlin
Feb 16th 2020
This was a slightly odd experience in that it was not exactly what I expected – not bad in itself but… I was expecting an overview of the gay rights struggle probably with a Germanic emphasis and while there was an element of this – there was a first-rate section on such brave pioneers as Magnus Hirschfeld and his research institute, destroyed by the Nazis in the 30’s – fortunately when he was abroad which I am sure led to his survival. I had always been reasonably aware of how forward thinking and compassionate he was but this little section showed me how truly visionary he was, particularly with his attempted understanding of intersex and transgender individuals at a time when the mere concept of homosexuality/being was extraordinary and radical enough in itself.
The museum consisted of a number of, quite small display areas – of which Hirschfeld was the focus in one – and then in others there was a fascinating and again powerful history of early transgender pioneers many of them completely unknown and this made for particularly evocative viewing. It also tied in very well with current concerns of the radical gay movement today. And it was this aspect that was more unusual in that everything they showed was closely connected to today’s current, and often very particular concerns. Bit very good to give this sense of history and make us aware that while we today may think that we are being really radical and forward thinking, we are only standing on the shoulders of early pioneers. It was this ‘message’ that was the most power aspect that I took away for the museum.
There were also a super range of photographs of the Pride Parades in Berlin form the earliest manifestations in the 60’s (?) to the present day. Also fascinating to see in this not just how more flamboyant they have become but also how appearance seems to be of ever more importance. In the earliest photographs (and this is true of all early photographs I have seen of Pride Parades in the UK and the USA, the participants looked much more ordinary and every day. I suppose this reflect the fact mood and ethos of the times and nowadays one can be flamboyant and extravagant whereas in the 60’s/70’s merely walking with group of fellow gay friends with a simple banner was in itself bold, brave and radical.
Interesting too to reflect on the experience of being in a Pride Parade here in Budapest where we are more in the late 60’s/early 70’s era in terms of how we are compared with, say Washington DC. Bit as I have said before, taking part in the Budapest Pride is actually more moving, more important, more powerful and more significant than taking part in the epic ones of Washington or London or other places.
https://www.schwulesmuseum.de/?lang=en