Course:CSIS200/2024/The Pink Triangle in Queer Histories

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About the Author

My Name is Vivian and I am a second year student at UBC. I plan to major in sociology or history. I took CSIS 200 because I was so disappointed in the lack of information about queer history and LGBTQIA+ issues taught in my high school. I wanted to educate myself on the intersectionality of critical engagements of sexuality studies and I learned a lot. My project focuses largely on the AIDS epidemic, a topic I have always been interested in but never really had the chance to do much research on. My artifact is the pink triangle which encapsulates the queer histories unit of CSIS 200. The pink triangle is applicable to queer histories becuase it was an important symbol during two big moments in queer histories: the Holocaust and the AIDS epidemic. I wrote this Wiki page with the intention that it would be accessible to anyone who had an interest in the topic. My goal was not only for scholars to be able to read it but people from any background. For accesibility purposes I have added a box with definitions of any words or concepts that could be new/unclear. I hope that when reading this you can gain new knowledge or even freshen up on some that you already had.

Definitions and Explanations

Words or concepts Definitions and Explanations
Queer Relating to a sexual or gender identity that does not correspond to established ideas of sexuality and gender, especially heterosexual norms[1].
LGBTQIA+ lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, Queer, intersex, asexual, +.
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks a person's immune system, making them vulnerable to infections or diseases. It is spread through bodily fluids often through unprotected sex or the sharing of needles for drug use[2].
AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome occurs in the late stages of untreated HIV when the immune system has already been so severely depleted that once minor sicknesses are now deadly[2].
Sexual Liberation Movement A relaxing of strict morals around sex in the 1960 which removed the idea of sex as only a marital act[3].
Contraceptive Pill A daily pill taken to alter one's hormones preventing pregnancy[4].
RuPaul's Drag Race A television series in which drag queens compete against each other for a  cash price of 100,000 dollars.
Drag An art expression in which a person dresses in exaggeratedly feminine clothing and makeup[1].
Drag Queen A person who participates in the art of drag.
Holocaust During the Hitlers Nazi regime the holocaust was his persecution and mass murder of millions of jewish people, Romani people, intellectually disabled people, political prisoner and homosexuals between the years 1933 and 1945[5].
Sexually Transmitted Infection According to the national cancer institute a sexually transmitted infection in “A disease caused by infection with certain bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that can be passed from one person to another through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or other body fluids, during oral, anal, or genital sex with an infected partner.”[6].
Homophobia A dislike or prejudice agaisnt gay people[1].
Intransigence Refusal to change one's ideas or views[1].

Introduction

Person holding up sign saying "SILENCE = DEATH" during a protest.

The pink triangle was a symbol of  hatred, and hurt that was miraculously turned into one of hope and pride. In the Holocaust concentration camps, the pink triangle identified, segregated and abused gay men. The pink triangle was a badge of shame. It was specifically associated with sexual abuse which often befell on the prisoners wearing it. The persecution of homosexuals throughout the Holocaust is a shameful part of history that was almost entirely erased due to the stigma around Queerness and our system's continual ignorance of Queer history[7]. Years later an unknown “rare cancer” which was exclusive to gay men began spreading. The disease killed more than 100,000 people in its first few years[8]. The US  government seemed to be turning a blind eye to the thousands of gay men losing their lives. The pink triangle was then chosen to be a symbol of activism by groups such as “ACT UP” to draw attention and remove shame from AIDS. I hypothesize that the pink triangle encapsulates historical challenges for the LGBTQIA+ community, gay men in particular. In this paper, I will explain the use of the pink triangle in the holocaust, the spreading of HIV and local context, how activists changed the meaning of the pink triangle and how the pink triangle is currently being used as a symbol of hope and pride.

The use of the Pink Triangle During the Holocaust

This is an image of the prisoners in Nazi concentration camps with different patches distinguishing them.

In the beginning, the pink triangle was one of many badges placed on the victims of the Holocaust as they entered the concentration camps. Red triangles were placed on political prisoners, yellow stars on Jewish prisoners and pink triangles on gay men[9]. Hitler's regime arrested, castrated, and sterilized gay men as they were a “threat” to his purification of Germany. Around 100,000 men were arrested during Hitlers time in power, and nearly 10,000 of them were killed due to exhaustion or forced participation in dangerous medical experiments. Once in the camps, prisoners sporting the pink triangle were often isolated, belittled and sometimes even sexually abused[10]. It is said that those wearing the pink triangle were the absolute lowest in the concentration camps hierarchy[11].  The pink triangle encapsulates the imprisonment and mistreatment of gay men during the Holocaust, a challenging time in Queer history. Only 15 years after the end of WWII the sexual liberation movement had just begun. In the global north sex was breaking free from the hindrance of marriage and the contraceptive pill had made its way into many people's homes, removing fear of unwanted pregnancy. These two factors allowed for what was known as the sexual revolution[12]. This was an exciting time for some, but a silent killer was spreading among men having sex with men: HIV[13]. An epidemic broke out killing many but as gay men were the only known victims at the time prejudice stopped many people from caring.

HIV and AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is spread through the sharing of bodily fluids, many times this

A list of ways one can get AIDS

means through sex without a barrier but it can also be spread through the sharing of needles, blood transfusions or even through breast milk consumption. AIDS occurs in the later stages of HIV infection once the virus has suppressed one's immune system so severely that even a simple cold can end a person's life[2]. AIDS took its first known life in 1969, a 16-year-old boy named Robert Rayford, it was speculated that he contracted the virus from being sexually abused by his grandfather or through his time as a sex worker[14]. In 1981 what we now know as HIV was officially named Gay Related Immune Deficiency (GRID) but many would refer to it as the “gay plague” , “gay cancer” or “gay syndrome” names that pushed the falsehood that it was a virus that could only be contracted by gay men[15]. The narrative that HIV could only harm gay men was not only interwoven with homophobia but also created the false belief that people only engaging in heterosexual sex could not be infected. This harmful rhetoric led to attacks on the Queer community including lesbians despite their infection rate being among the lowest apart from those who chose to abstain from sex completely[16]. Safe sex and condom use were also not a common practice in the gay community at this time with community member saying that their sexual parters are often shocked or even refuse when they are asked to wear a condom[17]. By 1982 the name GRID was changed to AIDS. It wasn't discovered that women can be infected until a full year later. At this point hundreds of gay men had already died. This late discovery is likely because HIV is more easily contracted anally then vaginally due to the anuses closeness to the bloodstream; this has inextricably associated AIDS and HIV with homosexuality. The intertwined stigma around being gay and having a sexually transmitted infection led to a particularly severe amount of shame around this virus. HIV at the time was also a likely death sentence different from any other STI adding to the fear and hysteria around the virus. As the epidemic continued, homophobia became more prominent in the media. There were infographics demonstrating how vaginas were rugged and “meant” to withstand the “traumas” of intercourse while rectums were not; perpetuating heteronormative ideas of sex. There was almost no discussion on AIDS safety in the media until long after gay men started dying. Once the media was talking about AIDS they often alluded to the epidemic being the fault of the gays. The Grim Reaper advertisement against AIDS,  for example mentions that AIDS used to “only affect gays and IV drug users”, but now anyone can be infected. Additionally many of the advertisements depicted AIDS as a conventional villain like a grim reaper or a deadly bullet, abstractions used to avoid addressing the issue in a more direct or in an  educational way[18].

ACT UP

14336262776 4fa33ec5e0 b.jpg
"SILENCE = DEATH" ACT UP poster.

As the epidemic continued and those with the power to help repeatedly chose not to. Governmental intransigence led people in New York to take matters into their own hands. They founded ACT UP in 1987,  an acronym for “AIDS coalition to unleash power”. As the research for the cure was extremely slow (likely due to homophobia and prejudice) ACT UP began having daily “acts of civil disobedience” peaceful protests showing their disappointment with the lack of research being done for the disease[19]. This is when the “SILENCE = DEATH” poster emerged inspired by the pink triangles used in the Holocaust. The poster paid homage to the silence surrounding the treatment of gay men in the concentration camps and how many were killed in the wake of that silence[20]. The bold white letter with the stark contrast to the black background draws the eyes to the poster making it particularly effective. The pink triangle then became one of the main symbols of the epidemic; SILENCE = DEATH posters, buttons and even clothing were everywhere[21]. The use of the pink triangle in the AIDS epidemic demonstrates how it encapsulates LGBTQIA+ history as it was a symbol used during an extremely painful time for the queer community. ACT UP protested airlines that would not let HIV-positive patients fly with them as well as new films and television shows that spread false or skewed information about AIDS[22]. In 1988 ACT UP founded an art-based activism group called Gran Fury which created similarly provocative images with slightly more emphasis on Queer liberation.  Images such as the iconic “read my lips” poster which depicted Queer couples kissing were plastered on buses, toilet seats and telephone poles. Anti AIDS activism went beyond fighting for the cure, it was a campaign for acceptance of human sexuality and human rights. Blood-splattered handprints with the text “The government has Blood on its Hands. One AIDS death every half hour” were also scattered across the city. Through their art, Gran Fury was able to capture mainstream media attention allowing them to advocate to the grand public. Art is an undeniably important facet of activism which is demonstrated through ACT UP and Gran Fury’s influential posters[23].

Vancouver's AIDS History

Meanwhile the gay community of Vancouver was also taking  action due to the many lives being taken with so few seeming to care. The local people started their version of ACT UP called Vancouver Persons with AIDS Coalition (PWA) which would hold marches for AIDS in the famously gay areas of town. The goal of PWA was to raise awareness and funding for AIDS and AIDS research. These walks were only able to raise around 8,000 dollars when they first started, but by 1993 the walk had grown to around 10,000 people and they had raised close to 300,000 dollars. The PWA then also started peer support programs. Members of the Vancouver community (mostly gay) were able to provide support for those who had fallen sick with AIDS. Despite the hard work of the community and the many activist groups, homophobia was still intertwined with the perceptions of illness making the lack of support for the cure extreme. Klassen, 2021 interviewed people who experienced this, recounting that their friends with AIDS would have to lie in a pile of their own feces because the nurses would not clean it up. Friends of the sick would have to do the jobs the healthcare professionals were too scared to do. Another interview from Klassen, 2021 talks about one man who died from AIDS and his parents wanted an open casket funeral so that his emaciated body would be on full display. His parents chose this “so the whole family could see what gay people deserved”[24].

Medical BreakThroughs and Modern Day Application

By the 1990’s there was what became known as the second wave of HIV, the first one was known to mostlyaffect gay men, and the second affected

"SHARING NEEDLES CAN GET YOU MORE THAT HIGH. IT CAN GET YOU AIDS"A advertisment from the Department of Health and Human Resources.

many people using injectables. Luckily right here in Vancouver, research seemed to finally be advancing. In 1996 HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) was developed at St Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver[25]. HAART does not stop the infection of HIV but it stops the virus from replicating in the body turning a once deadly diagnosis into a manageable chronic disease [6]. Then in 2012 PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) was created, a preventative medicine that allows people to encounter the virus without contracting it [26]. This medication can be hugely helpful to people who use injectables, sex workers or even people with an HIV positive partner who want to be safe. With the combination of those two revolutionary treatments, researchers are beginning to wonder if the end of AIDS altogether is possible. That being said, even with HAART the disease is still chronic, and there are many countries that do not have the level of resources we are fortunate enough to have in Canada[27] . In Sub-Saharan Africa for example, 380,000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses as recently as 2022[28] . Nonetheless the medical advancements that have been made are still incredible and many would have thought they were not possible years ago.

How the Pink Triangle is Currently Being Used

The pink triangle continues as a symbol of hope and pride. For example when word got out that gay

"SWEEPS=DEATH"

men were being prosecuted in Chechnya, pink triangle posters with the words “Stop the death camps” were scattered around London to show support. There is also the Pink Triangle Park in San Francisco commemorating the gay Americans killed in the Holocaust[11]. On the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Drag Queen Cheddar Gorgeous sported an outfit covered in pink triangles with “SILENCE = DEATH” strapped across her body. Pink triangles like the one on the right hand side of the screen can also be found around Vancouver. It says instead “sweeps = death” which is referring to the at risk populations and the tendency for them to be swept off the streets rather than given resources to actually help. Today the main symbols of gay pride are usually pride flags, nonetheless the pink triangle undeniably shows the resilience of the Queer community. It has been a prominent symbol in pride imagery since the AIDS epidemic. The ability to take a symbol that was once so shameful and use it first to fight for those dying from AIDS and then as a symbol of pride for the LGBTQIA+ community indicates the strength and resilience of the community.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the pink triangle started as a symbol of shame. Prisoners sporting the patch on their uniforms were subject to severe abuse in the World War II concentration camps. During the AIDS epidemic a similar silence fell over the mistreatment of gay men. Many healthcare workers and members of the general public did not seem to care that homophobia was leading to the neglect, mistreatment and ultimately death of gay HIV positive men. This led to the angry people of New York city founding a coalition to fight back. The pink triangle was at the forefront of this movement. It became  a symbol plastered all over the United States to draw attention to the ignorance of the government and health officials.  The pink triangle was reclaimed during the AIDS epidemic as an activist symbol in a largely successful campaign against AIDS. Now the pink triangle is used as a symbol of pride as it shows the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community. The pink triangle encapsulates Queer histories as it was a badge of the Holocaust where so many gay men were killed, then a symbol of activism through the AIDS epidemic.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Oxford Dictionary. Oxford Press.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 HIV.gov (January 13th 2024). "What are HIV and AIDS?". Retrieved November 24th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  3. ↑ Ter-Grigoryan, Svetlana (December 21st 2023). "Sexual Revolution | Definition, Liberation & Consequences". Retrieved November 28th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  4. ↑ Gordon, Lonna P. (January 2022). "Birth control (contraceptive) pill (for teens) | nemours kidshealth". Retrieved November 30th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  5. ↑ History.com (October 14, 2009). "The Holocaust". Retrieved November 30th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 National Cancer Institute (n.d). "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms". Retrieved November 28th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  7. ↑ Newsome, Jake (2022). Pink triangle legacies coming out in the shadow of the holocaust. Cornell University Press.
  8. ↑ Altman, Lawrence (July 3rd 1981). "Rare cancer seen in 41 homosexuals" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved November 25th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  9. ↑ United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC. "CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IN NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS". Holocaust Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 23rd 2024. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ Malloryk (June 29 2020). "Recounting terror and sexual violence: Josef Kohout's the men with the Pink Triangle: The National WWII Museum: New Orleans". Retrieved November 20th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Waxman, O.B. (May 31 2018). "How nazi pink triangles symbol was reclaimed for LGBT Pride". Time. Retrieved November 23rd 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  12. ↑ https://time.com/5295476/gay-pride-pink-triangle-history/, A. (June 23 2020). "Sexual liberation and sexual revolutions. Encyclopédie d'histoire numérique de l'Europe". Retrieved November 19th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  13. ↑ Fitzsimons, T. (October 15th 2018). "LGBTQ History month: The Early Days of America's AIDS crisis". NBCNews.com. Retrieved November 27th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  14. ↑ Conway, P. (May 15th 2024). "Say his name: Robert Rayford". Check date values in: |date=, |archive-date= (help)
  15. ↑ Institut Pasteur. (May 24 2023). "40 years of HIV discovery: The first cases of a mysterious disease in the early 1980s". Retrieved November 18th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  16. ↑ Gangamma, R., Slesnick, N., Toviessi, P., & Serovich, J. (2008). "Comparison of HIV risks among gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual homeless youth". Journal of Youth and Adolescence.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ Brendstrup, Eva; Schmidt, Kirsten (1990). "HOMOSEXUAL AND BISEXUAL MEN'S COPING WITH THE AIDS EPIDEMIC: QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS WITH 10 NON-HIV-TESTED HOMOSEXUAL AND BISEXUAL MEN" (PDF). Science Direct.
  18. ↑ Florêncio, J. (October 15 2023). "AIDS: Homophobic and moralistic images of 1980s still haunt our view of HIV – that must change". Theconveration.com. Retrieved November 20th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  19. ↑ Burk, T. (2015). "Radical distribution". Sage Journals.
  20. ↑ Brooklyn Museum (n.d). "Silence=death". Retrieved November 18th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  21. ↑ Goldberg, Ron (2022). Boy with the Bullhorn: A Memoir and History of ACT UP New York. Fordham University Press.
  22. ↑ Banales, M (n.d). "ACT UP". Britannica. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ↑ Finkelstein, A. (2020). After silence: A history of AIDS through its images. UNIV OF CALIFORNIA Press.
  24. ↑ Klassen, B. (2021). "'facing it together': Early caregiving responses to Vancouver's HIV/AIDS epidemic". Wiley.
  25. ↑ Thompson, S. (2024). HIV in Vancouver [Lecture Slides]. https://www.youthco.org
  26. ↑ Rosas Cancio-Suárez, M., Díaz-Álvarez, J., Ron, R., Martínez-Sanz, J., Serrano-Villar, S., Moreno, S., & Sánchez-Conde, M. (2023). "From Innovation to Implementation: The Evolution of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Future Implications". PrePrints.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ↑ Deeks, S. G., Lewin, S. R., & Havlir, D. V. (2013). "The end of AIDS: HIV infection as a chronic disease". The Lancet.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ↑ W.H.O (n.d). "HIV/AIDS". World Health Organization. Retrieved November 27th 2024. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
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