Berlin's Third Sex

In 1904, Berlin did not exactly look like a haven of tolerance. Sex between consenting males and gender non—conformity were illegal, and other forms of sexual expression faced oppressive societal taboos. But despite fear, secrecy, and blackmail, Germany’s imperial capital nurtured a vibrant and diverse queer subculture.
In Berlin’s Third Sex, German sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld offers a sympathetic glimpse into this queer life, depicting spaces such as gyms, bars, cafés, aristocratic drawing...