CW: Homophobia, Transphobia, Nazis/Fascism

Shillace’s work offers both in depth research and a humanizing story as she describes Dr. Magnus Hirshfeld’s work at the Institute for Sexual Science (Institut für Sexualwissenschaft) and, specifically, one of its patients, a transwoman named Dora Richter. As with many books describing turbulent times, sometimes keeping tracks of events, names, and connections I found a little overwhelming – but contextualizing and linking them to Dora made it a much easier read than some history texts. Shillace’s tying of these historical events to the current environment, particularly in the United States, were achingly appropriate. Books like hers that record put the historical reality of queer individuals to paper, to preserve and to spread it, are only more important in such times. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in LGBTQ+ history, and especially for those interested in trans and non-binary history, as well as the history of fascism and totalitarianism and how such governments use attacks on “undesirables” to advance their agenda.

this was a fantastic read as someone who very rarely delves into nonfiction, and it was really interesting to learn about trans history. equally interesting but not really in a good way was how obvious the parallels were to the modern united states because it is much closer than i knew. don't really have too much else to say

An absolutely perfect blend of social, political and scientific history with clear implications for our current public discourse, this well-researhed and thoughtfully written work is a must-have for all non-fiction collections.

This book tells a previously lost history to the masses, the story of the institute for sexual sciences headed by Dr Magnus Hirshfeld. A gay, jewish man Hirshfeld made the institute a home, a safe space - not just for the LGBTQIA+ community but also for Jewes and women facing oppression and danger with the rise of the Nazi's.

Not only do we learn about this, we several moving pictures of the institute and its residents, public for the first time. It casts a new light on Hitler and the Nazi's, the reality of the time and their eugenic ideals. How his gas chambers were originally for rassenhygeine (euthanasia) of the disabled and those they saw as genetically lesser than, before their use as the 'final solution'.

A history of light and dark:
- development and first successes of hormones and hormone therapy
- the growth of understanding queerness and gender
- the first successful transgender surgeries
but also
- the night of the long knives
- April 8th 1933 - the start of the end for the institute. The site vandalised, books burned and raided, troopers taking anything of value.

It links back to current events - a scary reality of how backwards the world is right now. To Dora Richter, Lili Elbe, and the others unnamed or lost, the fight is ongoing but we thank you for laying the foundations.