German Government Set To Pay Compensation To Gays Convicted Of Violating Anti-homosexuality Laws

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor.

A long-overdue measure to compensate persons convicted of violating Germany’s 19^th century anti-homosexuality law–since repealed–is to finally arrive. The German government set aside a reported thirty-million euros to be distributed among potentially an estimated fifty-thousand men convicted of homosexuality. The award stems for convictions spanning seventy years since the destruction of the Nazi Government.

 

The controversial law known as Paragraph 175, codified in 1871 until its repeal in 1994, had not reportedly been enforced since 1968 in East Germany and a year later in the West. Still, during such time over 140,000 men were convicted of violating anti-homosexuality statutes. During the Nazi-era the prohibition extended into outright state sponsored depravity when the Third Reich sent thousands to concentration camps to face hardship and execution.

Though those convicted and somehow surviving the nineteen thirties and forties were pardoned in 2002, disappointingly the pardons were not extended to those since despite the law not being currently enforced.

The repealing statute offers a straight-forward pardoning petition process and amounts commensurate with length of incarcerations. The government anticipates an initial five-thousand claimants.

While the compensation certainly is welcome in nearly all respects, it serves as yet another example of a necessary trait of those disparaged by government seeking redress is too often longevity.

By Darren Smith

Source: Deutsche Welle

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