Abstract

This 1931 announcement publicized the weekly social and business gatherings of the women’s section of the local chapter of the nationwide gay organization Bund für Menschenrecht [Federation for Human Rights] in Stuttgart, in southwestern Germany. It illustrates the fact that queer subcultures existed in many parts of the country in the 1920s. Although less well-known than the gay scene in Berlin, other cities and even some large towns supported a number of political and social associations that catered to what we would today refer to as the LGBTQ+ community, and many cities also had bars that billed themselves as exclusively gay or at least gay-friendly. The latter seemed to have been the case with the Sonnenhof Restaurant in Stuttgart, which likely reserved a private room for the women’s section to hold its meetings, social hours, and dances. The restaurant’s willingness to do so suggests that it anticipated little or no backlash from its other patrons. The fact that the club held its meetings in a centrally located restaurant also suggests that Stuttgart’s lesbian community had little fear of disturbances or other negative responses to their meetings. Based on articles and other advertisements in Die Freundin at the time, transgender people may well have attended functions put on by the women’s section as well.

Advertisement for Lesbian Club in Stuttgart (May, 1931)

Source

“Hello, Stuttgart!”
Girlfriends, join our club!

Every Saturday and Sunday
Cozy, sociable get-together
In the new club restaurant
Restaurant “Sonnenhof”
Stuttgart, Rotebühlstraße 89,
near the Feuersee. Telephone 62492

Dancing starts at 8 o'clock in the evening! Great atmosphere!
Girlfriends, become members!
Members’ meeting every Wednesday
Local group Stuttgart, Claere Angel
Chairwoman of the ladies’ section

The chairwoman will be happy to provide information
Enclose return postage for all inquiries

Source: Die Freundin, May 27, 1931. Available online: https://www.der-liebe-wegen.org/aufbruchstimmung_weimarer_republik/

Translation: Pam Selwyn