Homomonument

Homomonument
View from above
Map
52°22′28″N 04°53′05.5″E / 52.37444°N 4.884861°E / 52.37444; 4.884861
LocationAmsterdam, Netherlands
DesignerKarin Daan
Materialgranite
Completion date5 September 1987

The Homomonument is a memorial in the centre of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. It commemorates all gay men and lesbians who have been persecuted because of their sexual orientation.[1] Opened on 5 September 1987, it was the first monument in the world to commemorate gays and lesbians who were killed by the German Nazi regime.[2]

The monument takes the form of three large pink triangles made of granite, set into the ground, which together compose a larger triangle. It is located on the bank of the Keizersgracht canal, near the historic Westerkerk church. The Homomonument was designed to "inspire and support lesbians and gays in their struggle against denial, oppression and discrimination."

During the Netherlands' annual Remembrance Day ceremony on 4 May, wreaths are laid on the monument to commemorate LGBT victims of persecution. A day later, on Liberation Day, the monument becomes the site of a street party.[3]

  1. ^ Orangias, Joe Joe, Jeannie Simms, & Sloane French (2017). "The Cultural Functions and Social Potential of Queer Monuments: A Preliminary Inventory and Analysis". Journal of Homosexuality. 65 (6): 705–726. doi:10.1080/00918369.2017.1364106. PMID 28777713. S2CID 33573843.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Dunford, Martin (2010). The Rough Guide to The Netherlands. Penguin. p. 73. ISBN 978-1-84836-882-8.
  3. ^ "Homomonument". Homomonument. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.