Homophobia in Europe in the 20th century

Homofobija jest strah i averzija prema osobama homoseksualne orijentacije, uključujući i osobe koje su tako percipirane. Pojedinci koji su deklarirani kao homofobi ne odobravaju djelovanje niti se mire s postojanjem LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual i Transgender) zajednice te promoviraju heteroseksualnost kao jedini oblik ljudske seksualnosti. Iako se homoseksualnost od 1976. godine više ne smatra psihijatrijskim poremećajem, već samo varijantom seksualnog ponašanja, svjedoci smo homofobije koja seže daleko u prošlost. U 20. stoljeću stav prema homoseksualnosti više se puta mijenjao. Godine 1869. prvi puta spominje se pojam homoseksualnosti koji otada mijenja pogrdni naziv „zločinac pred Bogom“ i ulazi u svakodnevni život kao novi, znanstveni termin. U vrijeme Prvoga svjetskoga rata homoseksualnost je bila kriminalizirana zakonima u gotovo svim europskim državama. Ipak, rat je bio, zbog svoje prirode i okruženja, plodno tlo za razvoj homoseksualnih prijateljstava. Razdoblje nakon Prvoga svjetskoga rata obilježeno je jačanjem homoseksualnoga aktivizma u Europi iako je u 20-im godinama 20. stoljeća zakonodavstvo vezano za homoseksualnost u pojedinim državama još uvijek bilo represivno. Lude dvadesete svoje mjesto pronašle su u gradovima poput Londona, Pariza i Berlina, koji su smatrani glavnim homoseksualnim gradovima. Tridesete godine 20. stoljeća u Europi su počele prilično bezbrižnim pogledom na homoseksualnost. No, početkom Drugoga svjetskoga rata Europa je ponovno počela biti homofobna jer su države, jedna po jedna, donosile zakone koji su ili kriminalizirali homoseksualnost ili su pojačali represiju i kazne za homoseksualne odnose. U Drugome svjetskome ratu najveću je ulogu imao njemački zakon Paragraf 175. i 175a koji je legalizirao masovno istrebljenje homoseksualaca logoraša, tj. ružičastih trokuta. Isti je zakon tijekom Drugoga svjetskoga rata uveden u sve države koje je Njemačka anektirala. Godine nakon Drugoga svjetskoga rata za homoseksualce su bile iznimno teške. Nastavljen je progon homoseksualaca sve dok 70-ih godina nije došlo do stvaranja pokreta za prava homoseksualaca i seksualne revolucije koja je izblijedila razliku između homoseksualnosti i heteroseksualnosti. Međutim, širenjem homoseksualnog oslobođenja, širio se i AIDS, a pritom i strategije izlječenja toga virusa.Homophobia is a fear and an aversion towards people of homosexual orientation, including people who are perceived as such. Individuals who declare themselves as homophobes do not approve of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community and promote heterosexuality as the only form of human sexuality. Although homosexuality is not considered a psychiatric disorder since 1976 but only a variant of sexual behaviour, we are witnesses of homophobia which dates back a long way in the past. The attitude towards homosexuality has changed several times in the 20th century. In 1869 the term homosexuality is mentioned for the first time replacing the derogatory term 'criminal before God' and entering everyday life as the new, scientific term. During the First World War homosexuality was criminalized by law in almost all European states. However, because of the nature and environment of the war it was fertile ground for developing homosexual friendships. Thus, the period after the First World War was marked by the strengthening of homosexual activism in Europe even though the 1920s' legislation on homosexuality in some states was still repressive. The crazy 20s found their place in cities like London, Paris and Berlin, which were considered homosexual cities. The 1930s in Europe began with a carefree view of homosexuality. Even so, as the Second World War began, Europe was again becoming homophobic as countries, one by one, passed laws that either criminalised homosexuality or strengthened repression and sanctions against homosexual relationships. The biggest role in this is attributed to German law Paragraph 175 and 175a which legalised mass extermination of homosexual prisoners of concentration camps, so-called pink triangles. The same law was passed in all countries annexed by Germany during the Second World War. The years after the Second World War were extremely difficult for homosexuals. The persecution of homosexuals continued until the seventies when the movement for gay rights was founded and sexual revolution happened which faded out the difference between homosexuality and heterosexuality. However, the spread of homosexual liberation was followed by the spread of AIDS and the strategies on how to cure it