Laws: Then and There - Now and Here
The Mosaic of Victims of Nazi Hatred outlines the many different groups victimised by the Nazi regime, including Gay men, Lesbians and Bisexual people. Please make sure you have read this case study before teaching this lesson.
The Legacy of Hope for HMD2010 provides the opportunity to explore the legacy of institutionalised homophobia which existed in Germany during the Nazi regime and to contrast and compare it with the situation of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people in Britain and other countries in the past and present.
The case study also invites reflection on the hopes of those who suffered during the Holocaust and discussion of how far we have come to realise these hopes in present day society, as well as considering what there is still left to do.
Preparing Your Resources
You can download the PowerPoint slides below and also visit the Stonewall website on the history of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual equality.
To begin set the context for research. Provide students with information on the treatment of Gay people from the Mosaic of Victims case study. Talk about Gay culture thriving in Germany in the 1920s despite Paragraph 175 which criminalised homosexuality. Talk about the persecution of Gay men through the Nazi regime and the effect students think this might have had on the situation of Lesbians and Bisexual people. Ask what did their exclusion from public life mean.
Now, with the whole class, thought shower laws which brought greater equality for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people in Britain. Present students with a list of these laws, you will find this on PowerPoint Slide 1. Ask everyone to consider what the laws are about and to guess year they were passed. If you click on the slide the years will appear.
Introduce a research task.
Show everyone the list of laws passed since 2000, you will find these on PowerPoint Slide 2.
- Legislation (PPT: 60416 KB)
- Laws: Then and There - Now and Here (PDF: 76247 KB)