F R I E N D S O F T H E P I N K T R I A N G L E

The History of the Pink Triangle

The pink triangle was used by the Nazis in concentration camps to identify and shame homosexuals. This symbol, which was used as in an attempt to label and shame has been embraced by the gay community as a symbol of pride.

However, in the 1930's & 40's there was nothing to celebrate concerning the pink triangle. Gays were forced to wear the pink triangle on their pockets in the concentration camps to identify them as homosexual to set them apart from other prisoners.

Triangles of various colors were used to identify each category of “undesirable”: yellow for Jews, brown of Gypsies, red for political prisoners, green for criminals, black for anti-socials, purple for Jehovah’s Witnesses, blue for immigrants and pink for homosexuals.

The pink triangles were slightly larger than the other colored triangles so that guards could identify them from a distance. It is said that those who wore the pink triangles were singled out by the guards to receive the harshest treatment, and when the guards were finished with them, some of the other inmates would harm them as well.

At the end of the war when the concentration camps were finally liberated, virtually all of the prisoners were released except those who wore the pink triangle. Many of those with a pink triangle on their pocket were put back in prison and the nightmare continued.

It is the same kind of senseless, irrational hatred that still haunts Gays, Jews, Blacks, and other minorities today.

The Taliban in Afghanistan required non-Muslims to wear identifying badges on their clothing, just as the NAZI’s required their “undesirables” to wear identifying logos so long ago. History repeats itself.

That is why the Twin Peaks display is so important. We must remind people of the hatred and prejudice of the past to help educate others and prevent it from happening again. What happened in the Holocaust must not be forgotten and must not be repeated.