Current dissertations

Institute of History, Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine

Doctoral candidate

Justin Schütte

Working title of the dissertation

Homosexuality in Germany 1960 - 1985. A paradigm shift in medicine and society

Abstract

The aim of the thesis is to describe the paradigm shift in the view of homosexuality from a medical and societal perspective in Germany. Starting from the legal situation in 1960, whose roots lie in National Socialism, the period under investigation begins here and ends in 1985.

Although male homosexuality was no longer a criminal offense in the Federal Republic of Germany after 1969, it was still considered an illness according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). As a result, physicians and therapists continually attempted sexual re-education using radical and degrading methods, without a favorable prognosis. In addition, the social stigmatization of homosexuals continued.

By analyzing specialist journals, contemporary guidebooks and archive sources, through interviews with affected persons and researching secondary literature, this thesis aims to shed light on several aspects at once. These include the focus on the reasons for and the beginning of the pathologization of homosexuality, the medical measures implemented, the beginning change of attitude in the context of the political upheaval of the 1960s and the steps towards the removal of homosexuality from the ICD catalog.

Physicians had an influence on those affected in all periods of time. They were given a significant part of the authority by society to interpret the norm and deviance of sexual behavior. The different attitudes of physicians in dealing with this topic will be examined. Many share the view that homosexuality is pathological, while others even disregard the classification of the ICD.

The sources already mentioned provide information about the views and changes. Documenting and analyzing this change of opinion will be part of this thesis. With this work I would like to make a scientific contribution to clarifying the social change in the view of homosexuality. What social and scientific developments led to the gradual destigmatization of homosexuality and what part did physicians play in this?