Gay Berlin: Birthplace of a Modern Identity

Long known for the friendly company of its "warm brothers" (German slang for men who love other men), before the turn of the twentieth-century, Berlin was a place where educators, activists, and medical professionals could explore and begin to educate both themselves and Europe about new and emerging sexual identities. It was a city of firsts--the first sex reassignment surgeries, (arguably) the first openly gay man--that molded our modern understanding of sexual orientation and gay identity. In Gay Berlin, Robert Beachy deftly guides readers through past events and developments that continue to shape and influence the way we think about sexuality to this day. Surprising and informative, Gay Berlin is a groundbreaking and foundational cultural examination of human sexuality.