Washington, D.C. is a beautiful city and often provides a moving visit, especially for Americans. A stroll along the National Mall can offer remarkable tranquility in the midst of a bustling city or a sense of an energetic community–often simultaneously.
Extending from the Lincoln Memorial at one end to the Capitol building at the other, the Mall can evoke conflicting feelings in a gay traveler. Lincoln’s promise of universal equality, echoed in this space by the nearby Jefferson Memorial, sometimes seems in stark contrast to the often hate filled rhetoric in the beautiful Capitol, reflected in the pools and framed by the World War II Memorial.
But to find true irony at its most powerful, one must venture a few steps off the Mall to the U.S. National Holocaust Memorial and Museum. It is not a simple task to express the cacaphony of emotions that bombard a gay visitor to this dramatic space. Foremost is the deep sorrow that so many precious lives were lost to irrational prejudice combined with an all powerful state and its efficient apparatus. The sorrow is, of course, blended with anger–anger at those who inflicted the harm but also at the people of the world who allowed the slaughter to continue for as long as it did. And anger, too, that in too many parts of the world prejudice still leads to such horrors, albeit on a somewhat smaller scale.
Yet, among the artifacts of hate and death and despair, one can find a ray of hope. Even the building’s magnificent architecture lends itself to these dueling emotions. Somber darkness interrupted by rays of light; walls that close in the visitor are suddenly cast aside into a vast spatial freedom.
Of course, the majority of the focus is upon the suffering of the Jews, as it rightly should be. They were, after all, the chief targets of the mighty death machines of the Nazis. But unlike some other holocaust memorials I have visited, this one offers proportional recognition of the other victims, including the Poles and Gypsies, the handicapped and gay men.
It is important for all gay men to be able to gaze on the actual infamous pink triangles worn by those brothers who were so unfortunate to fall into the hands of the homophobes. It should give new meaning to those t-shirts or jeans pockets adorned with the symbol.
One of the great destinations for gay travel is Washington, D.C. However, don’t spend all your time staring at the Washington Monument while on your way to the nightlife of DuPont Circle. Become aware and inspired at the Holocaust Memorial. Definitely do not rush your visit.
[...] steps from the Mall is an essential stop for every visitor to the area, especially enthusiasts of gay travel is the U.S. National Holocaust Museum. A moving memorial to all who suffered at the whims of the Nazis prior to and during World War [...]
[...] off the National Mall is another important destination for gay tourism is the U.S. National Holocaust Memorial and Museum. The museum is a moving tribute to all the people who were victimized by the Nazi apparatus of [...]
[...] off the Mall is another important destination for gay travel is the U.S. National Holocaust Museum. The museum is a moving tribute to all the people who were victimized by the Nazi apparatus of [...]
[...] the National Mall is an essential stop for every visitor to the city, especially enthusiasts of gay travel is the Holocaust Museum. A moving memorial to all who suffered at the hands of the Nazis before and during World War II, [...]
[...] the National Mall is an essential stop for every visitor to the city, especially enthusiasts of gay travel is the U.S. National Holocaust Museum. A moving memorial to all who suffered at the hands of the Nazis before and during the second [...]
[...] off the National Mall is another important stop for gay travel is the Holocaust Museum. A moving memorial to all who suffered at the whims of the Nazis in the years before and during [...]
[...] off the Mall is another important stop for gay travel is the U.S. National Holocaust Museum. The museum is a moving tribute to all the people who were victimized by the Nazi apparatus of [...]
[...] off the National Mall is another important stop for gay tourism is the Holocaust Memorial and Museum. A moving memorial to all who suffered at the whims of the Nazis before and during World War II, [...]
[...] off the National Mall is another important destination for gay tourism is the Holocaust Memorial and Museum. A moving memorial to all who suffered at the hands of the Nazis prior to and during the second [...]
[...] steps from the Mall is an essential stop for every visitor to the area, especially enthusiasts of gay tourism is the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a moving tribute to all the people who were victimized by the Nazi apparatus of [...]
[...] the National Mall is an essential stop for every visitor to the area, especially enthusiasts of gay tourism is the U.S. National Holocaust Museum. The museum is a moving tribute to all the people who were victimized by the Nazi apparatus of [...]
[...] off the Mall is another important stop for gay travel is the U.S. National Holocaust Museum. A moving memorial to all who suffered at the hands of the Nazis prior to and during World War [...]
[...] off the National Mall is another important destination for gay travel is the Holocaust Museum. A moving memorial to all who suffered at the whims of the Nazis prior to and during World War [...]
[...] the National Mall is an essential stop for every visitor to the city, especially enthusiasts of gay tourism is the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a moving tribute to all the people who were victimized by the Nazi apparatus of [...]
[...] steps from the Mall is an essential stop for every visitor to the city, especially enthusiasts of gay tourism is the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a moving tribute to all the people who were victimized by the Nazi apparatus of [...]
[...] is another important destination for gay travel is the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a moving tribute to all the [...]
[...] off the National Mall is another important destination for gay tourism is the Holocaust Memorial and Museum. The museum is a moving tribute to all the people who were victimized by the Nazi apparatus of [...]
[...] steps from the Mall is an essential stop for every visitor to the area, especially enthusiasts of gay tourism is the U.S. National Holocaust Memorial and Museum. The museum is a moving tribute to all the people who were victimized by the Nazi apparatus of [...]