Section 175 of the German Penal Code criminalised sexual acts between gay men.

Section 175 came into force in 1872 and was only abolished in 1994. With its help, sexual acts between men were made punishable. Under the National Socialists, the punishments that could be used with this paragraph were made even more severe. Those found guilty accordingly faced a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison. In "aggravated cases" there was even the threat of 10 years in prison.

After the paragraph was (finally) abolished in the 1990s, it was decided in 2017 that people convicted on its basis should be compensated. In the same year, it was also determined that all convicted persons whose partners were at least 16 years old at the time of the sexual intercourse or sexual acts should be rehabilitated.

Many conclusions can be drawn from the amendment of the paragraph - also from a historical perspective - with regard to sexuality and the Position gay people in society. Despite the fact that the horrific requirements and punishment options are now a thing of the past, many gay people find it extremely discriminatory that the paragraph was able to last at all until 1994. Shockingly, its original function was even directly related to a ban on fornication with animals.

In many countries around the world, homosexuality is still punishable by death or torture. Many human rights organisations that LGBT community and other groups are fighting for homosexuality to be recognised in other parts of the world. How successful this approach is or will be will become clear in the course of the coming years and decades.