The treatment of LGBTQ+ rights in 1939 Germany and the 2025 United States reveals stark contrasts in the historical and social conditions faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in these two countries. These differences reflect the political climate, cultural norms, and societal attitudes toward gender and sexual minorities in these specific time periods.

1939 Germany:

The persecution of homosexuality in the Holocaust

In 1939, Germany was under the rule of the Nazi regime, which had a deeply hostile stance toward LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly gay men.

1. Criminalization and Persecution of Homosexuality:
   • Nazi Germany criminalized homosexuality, particularly male homosexuality, which had already been prohibited under Paragraph 175 of the German Penal Code from the late 19th century. The Nazis expanded these laws, increasing penalties and aggressively targeting homosexuals.
   • Under Adolf Hitler, the regime intensified the repression of homosexuals, with a focus on gay men. The Gestapo (Nazi secret police) regularly raided gay bars, clubs, and homes. Homosexuality was considered a degenerative and un-German behavior, which contributed to the regime’s focus on racial purity and the suppression of anything deemed “unnatural”.
2. The Persecution of LGBTQ+ Individuals:
   • Thousands of gay men were arrested, with many sent to concentration camps. There, they faced brutal treatment, including forced labor, castration, and often death. The infamous Pink Triangle badge was used to mark homosexual prisoners in concentration camps, and they were often subjected to harsher conditions than other prisoners.
   • The Nazis promoted heterosexuality as essential for the nation’s racial purity and the creation of a strong, militarized state, thereby actively eradicating homosexual expression and targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
3. Cultural and Medical Attitudes:
   • The Nazis viewed homosexuality not only as a crime but also as a mental illness or moral degeneracy. They implemented pseudo-scientific eugenics policies that portrayed homosexuality as harmful to the health of the German population and sought to eliminate it through repression, conversion efforts, and forced sterilization of individuals deemed as “degenerates.”

2025 United States:

By 2025, the United States has undergone significant transformation in its treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals, from criminalization and discrimination to growing legal recognition and protection of their rights.

1. Legal Rights and Protections:
   • As of 2025, LGBTQ+ rights in the United States are significantly more advanced compared to 1939 Germany, despite ongoing challenges. The Supreme Court’s decision in 2015 (Obergefell v. Hodges) legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. LGBTQ+ individuals have legal rights in most states, including employment protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (extended in 2020 to include sexual orientation and gender identity).
   • Hate crime laws in the U.S. also specifically protect LGBTQ+ individuals from violence and discrimination, with federal laws and many state laws ensuring that crimes motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias are prosecuted more severely.
2. Cultural Attitudes and Social Acceptance:
   • LGBTQ+ acceptance in the United States has generally improved over the decades, with increasing visibility and support for LGBTQ+ people, particularly among younger generations. By 2025, attitudes toward homosexuality, gender identity, and sexual orientation are much more inclusive in the U.S. than in many parts of the world.
   • Pride parades, events, and organizations like the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) continue to gain momentum, advocating for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. The Transgender community has also seen significant visibility, especially in terms of advocating for healthcare rights, legal gender recognition, and the right to serve in the military.
3. Challenges Still Facing the LGBTQ+ Community:
   • Despite advancements in legal rights, LGBTQ+ individuals in the U.S. still face discrimination and violence, particularly transgender individuals, who experience higher rates of murder, homelessness, and mental health challenges.
   • Political pushback remains, especially from more conservative areas, with anti-LGBTQ+ legislation targeting issues like transgender rights in schools, access to healthcare, and restrictions on participation in sports. These efforts have sparked culture wars around LGBTQ+ issues, with some states attempting to pass laws that roll back the protections gained in recent years.
   • There are ongoing struggles for transgender rights, including access to gender-affirming healthcare and protection from discrimination in housing and employment. Additionally, debates surrounding conversion therapy (practices aimed at changing sexual orientation) and the right to adopt children for same-sex couples persist.

Comparison and Contrast:

1. Legal Landscape:
   • In 1939 Germany, LGBTQ+ people, particularly gay men, faced brutal criminalization, persecution, and death under the Nazi regime. They were viewed as degenerate and were subjected to systematic repression. By contrast, in the 2025 United States, although challenges persist, LGBTQ+ people are generally afforded legal rights and protections that were unimaginable in 1939, including same-sex marriage, anti-discrimination laws, and the right to adopt children.
2. Social Acceptance:
   • 1939 Germany was characterized by extreme hostility and repression against LGBTQ+ individuals, with a regime that actively sought to eliminate homosexuality. In contrast, the 2025 United States, while still facing pockets of discrimination, has made significant strides in acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. Pride movements and LGBTQ+ visibility in media, politics, and culture have contributed to a more inclusive society, particularly in urban areas and among younger generations.
3. LGBTQ+ Activism:
   • In 1939 Germany, LGBTQ+ activism was nearly impossible under Nazi control. The LGBTQ+ community was underground, fearful for their lives, and lacked the legal or social structures to advocate for their rights.
   • In the 2025 United States, LGBTQ+ activism is much more visible and organized. Advocacy groups, legal defense funds, and broad public campaigns push for social change, with support for marriage equality, transgender rights, and the elimination of conversion therapy. LGBTQ+ individuals and allies actively work to fight discrimination and promote inclusion in all areas of society.

Conclusion:

The comparison between 1939 Nazi Germany and the 2025 United States highlights the dramatic transformation in the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals. In 1939 Germany, LGBTQ+ people, particularly gay men, were persecuted to an extreme degree, facing arrest, imprisonment, and execution under the Nazi regime. In contrast, by 2025, the United States has made significant strides toward LGBTQ+ acceptance and legal rights, even though challenges and discrimination persist. The difference in treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals between these two periods underscores the remarkable progress achieved in some parts of the world over the last century in terms of human rights and social inclusion.