The Pink Scar. How Nazi Persecution Shaped the Struggle for LGBTQ+ RightsBy Thomas R. Dunn. University Park, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2025. Series: Troubling Democracy. Pp. xii+206. Paper 24. 99. ISBN 978-0-271-10016-6.

Key Points

• The book examines the historical context of Nazi persecution and its lasting impact on LGBTQ+ rights.
• Historical analysis of Nazi policies against LGBTQ+ individuals
• Examination of post-war LGBTQ+ rights movements
• Review of key texts and narratives surrounding LGBTQ+ advocacy
• Identifies connections between past persecution and contemporary LGBTQ+ rights struggles
• Highlights the influence of historical narratives on modern advocacy efforts
• Illustrates how trauma informs social movements for justice

Abstract