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Benno Premsela
(May 4, 1920 - March 27, 1997) Holland

Benno Premsela

Designer, activist

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An early European gay movement leader, Premsela grew up as the third child in a well-to-do progressive, humanistic environment. His parents had exchanged their Jewish religion for socialism. His father was a physician and the first Dutch sexologist. Unlike most of his colleagues, he stated that homosexuality should not be looked upon as a perversity.

Of the Permsela family, only Benno and his brother survived the Shoah. Being condemned to death once and having surviced, he could not accept the fact that public ostracism was condemning him to social death for being a homosexual.

Thus in 1947, shortly after its founding, Permsela became a member of the COC (Centre for Culture and Recreation, the Dutch gay nad lesbian movement). He also was its chairman for nine years.

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Source: excerpts from: Aldrich R. & Wotherspoon G., Who's Who in Contemporary Gay and Lesbian History, from WWII to Present Day, Routledge, London, 2001

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