Lesbian Life and Literature: A Survey of Recent German-Language Publications

The article discusses similarities and differences of Lesbian/Gay politics and culture in German-speaking countries and in the USA and surveys recent non-fiction German-language publications, documenting widespread cultural borrowing and a keen interest in historical research. A new genre, the "merged anthology," juxtaposes the pioneering work of non-German writers/activists in translation with original German contributions on related themes. Recent scholarly works provide a historical survey of Lesbian literature and document the existence of Lesbian subcultures in the GDR, in Switzerland in the 1930s and 1940s, and in Germany during the Third Reich. Analysis of the specifically German situation demonstrates the intrinsic connection between homophobia, racism, and institutionalized violence by the State. (JC)