Gerd Katter

Gerd Katter was born on March 14, 1910, in Berlin. As a child, he lived as a boy and, as a teenager, wished to physically transition. Seeking support, he and his mother turned to Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institute for Sexual Science.

In a testament to how progressive Berlin was at the time, Gerd was granted a Transvestitenschein at age 18, which was an identification document issued by the police that affirmed his gender identity and allowed him to wear male clothing without fear of prosecution or harassment. A year later, he received a medical certificate stating that living as a man was essential for his psychological well-being and ability to work. With this validation, he legally changed his name and later became a carpenter.

What became of Gerd during the Third Reich is unknown, but given the brutal persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals under the Nazis, he likely had to hide and exercise extreme caution. Nevertheless, he lived as his authentic self until his passing in 1985.

Sharing stories like Gerd’s is more important than ever. Recently, I attempted to educate someone who falsely claimed that trans people did not exist until recent years. Despite acknowledging that queer people suffered under the Nazis, they refused to believe that trans individuals were also persecuted—despite clear historical evidence. While Gerd may have survived, many other trans and gender-nonconforming people were imprisoned, tortured, and killed under the Nazi regime.

Special thanks to @pinktrianglelegacies for publishing the resources and biographical details that led me to Gerd’s story. Please check out their Instagram and website to learn more.