Magnus Hirshfeld German doctor of Jewish origin, sexologist Date of Birth: 14.05.1868 Country: Germany

1. Biography of Magnus Hirschfeld
2. The Scientific Humanitarian Committee
3. Institute for Sexual Research
4. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Magnus Hirschfeld

Magnus Hirschfeld, a prominent German physician of Jewish origin, was born on May 14, 1868, in Kolberg, Prussia. Initially, he studied philology and philosophy in Breslau and Strasbourg before pursuing medicine in various cities including Strasbourg, Munich, Heidelberg, and Berlin from 1888 to 1892. After completing his studies, Hirschfeld traveled through the United States and Africa. Two years later, he settled in Berlin and began practicing medicine after working briefly as a doctor in Magdeburg.

The Scientific Humanitarian Committee

In 1896, Hirschfeld published an essay titled "Sappho and Socrates" under the pseudonym Th. Ramien. In this essay, he argued that homosexuality is a natural part of human sexuality and should be studied scientifically. He advocated for the revision of laws, specifically paragraph 175, which criminalized homosexual relationships. Influenced by the works of Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, Hirschfeld co-founded the Scientific Humanitarian Committee on May 15, 1897, along with publisher Max Spohr, lawyer Eduard Oberg, and writer Max von Bülow. This was the first organization dedicated to advocating for gay rights. The committee's objectives included the repeal of paragraph 175, which only criminalized male homosexuality, public education to combat prejudice against homosexuality and homosexuals, and representing the interests of homosexuals in their fight for rights. Hirschfeld led an initiative to collect signatures for a petition protesting against paragraph 175. Over six thousand signatures were collected, including those of Albert Einstein, Leo Tolstoy, Émile Zola, Hermann Hesse, and Thomas Mann. However, the petition was not reviewed by the Reichstag until 25 years later.

In 1899, the committee distributed the first printed edition of the "Yearbook for Intermediate Sexual Types" (Jahrbuch für sexuelle Zwischenstufen), a publication intended for homosexuals and lesbians. This annual journal continued until 1922 when it ceased due to the economic crisis in the Weimar Republic. The journal featured scientific and cultural research on homosexuality. In 1908, Hirschfeld briefly published a sexology journal but was forced to close it that same year due to a political scandal known as the Moltke-Harden affair, which involved high-ranking homosexuals in Kaiser Wilhelm II's circle. The scandal led to an increase in hostility towards the growing gay rights movement. Poet Otto Reuter wrote satirical poems about Hirschfeld and homophobia among officers and the nobility, which actually increased Hirschfeld's authority and popularity among the German population.

Institute for Sexual Research

In 1910, Hirschfeld introduced the term "transvestite" to describe individuals who preferred to wear clothing of the opposite sex. That same year, a new law imposing harsh penalties for lesbians and homosexuals was enacted. The outbreak of World War I interrupted Hirschfeld's advocacy work, and he served in a military hospital. Shortly before the end of the war, Hirschfeld established the Magnus Hirschfeld Foundation. In 1919, with the advent of the Weimar Republic and its liberal political views, Hirschfeld founded the Institute for Sexual Research in Berlin on July 6, 1919, along with dermatologist Friedrich Wertheim and neurologist and psychotherapist Arthur Kronfeld. It became the world's first institute dedicated to studying human sexuality.

In 1921, the institute organized the "First Scientific Conference on the Reform of Sexual Issues based on Sexology Research." Hirschfeld and his colleagues believed that advancements in sexology could lead to societal reforms. The institute also hosted the Exhibition of the Society for Magnus Hirschfeld, which aimed to educate the public about sexuality. In a published appeal in 1921, the Scientific Humanitarian Committee expressed its commitment to fighting for homosexual rights. The appeal stated, "Homosexuals! You can only achieve fair treatment through your own efforts. The freedom to be a homosexual can only be won by the gays themselves." Finally, on March 18, 1922, after twenty-five years since the initial petition, it was reviewed by the Reichstag. However, amidst the rising political chaos of the Weimar Republic, the petition was rejected. The institute went on to organize the World League for Sexual Reform, which held congresses in Copenhagen (1928), London (1929), Vienna (1930), and Brno (1932). The organization's headquarters were located in the Institute for Sexual Research in Berlin. In 1935, the organization was dissolved, but its English division continued its work.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1919, Hirschfeld released one of the first films about homosexuality in cinema history, titled "Different from the Others" (Anders als die Anderen). He participated in the film's production and acted in it as well. Directed by Richard Oswald, the film portrayed the story of a cellist who becomes a victim of defamation due to his homosexuality. On the film's premiere on May 24, 1919, Hirschfeld addressed the audience with the following words: "What you are about to see today is related to an exceptionally important and challenging topic. It is challenging because among people, there are countless prejudices and ignorant beliefs regarding this topic. The importance of this subject lies in ensuring that not only should we free homosexuals from undeserved contempt but also influence public opinion in such a way that legal barbarism comparable to the witch hunts and burning of witches, heretics, and atheists ceases to exist. Furthermore, the number of people who are 'different from others' is much greater than most parents can imagine... The film you are about to see will bring us closer to the time when illiteracy is eradicated, science triumphs over prejudice, law conquers lawlessness, and human love prevails over human cruelty and ignorance."

In 1920, Hirschfeld was attacked after delivering a lecture in Munich, which left him in a serious condition. Some newspapers even falsely reported his death. In 1926, he visited Moscow and Leningrad by invitation of the Soviet government. He then traveled through North America and Asia. Following his return, he went into exile in Switzerland and later France.

In 1933, the Institute for Sexual Research in Berlin was closed by order of the Nazis. On May 6, 1933, the institute was destroyed, and its books were burned on the Opernplatz in Berlin. After failing to establish a new institute in Paris, Hirschfeld moved to Nice, where he died at the age of 67 in 1935.

In 1999, a film titled "Magnus Hirschfeld - The Einstein of Sex" was released, directed by Rosa von Praunheim, focusing on Hirschfeld's life and work.