W. Jake Newsome (Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust) in conversation with Deezy

Join us in-store on Wednesday, April 12th at 7 PM as we have W. Jake Newsome discuss his book, Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust, with Novelette co-owner Deezy Youngdahl.

This is a free event, but RSVPing is highly encouraged as we are a small space and may fill up! This event is standing room only, but you may bring a camping/folding chair if you like, or get cozy on our floor! Feel free to bring non-alcoholic drinks but please do not bring any food.

Copies of Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust are available for order here.

Extra copies will be available for purchase at the event, and 15% off other books will be offered in-store browsing once the event is over.

About the book:

Pink Triangle Legacies traces the transformation of the pink triangle from a Nazi concentration camp badge and emblem of discrimination into a widespread, recognizable symbol of queer activism, pride, and community. W. Jake Newsome provides an overview of the Nazis' targeted violence against LGBTQ+ people and details queer survivors' fraught and ongoing fight for the acknowledgement, compensation, and memorialization of LGBTQ+ victims. Within this context, a new generation of queer activists has used the pink triangle—a reminder of Germany's fascist past—as the visual marker of gay liberation, seeking to end queer people's status as second-class citizens by asserting their right to express their identity openly.

The reclamation of the pink triangle occurred first in West Germany, but soon activists in the United States adopted this chapter from German history as their own. As gay activists on opposite sides of the Atlantic grafted pink triangle memories onto new contexts, they connected two national communities and helped form the basis of a shared gay history, indeed a new gay identity, that transcended national borders.

Pink Triangle Legacies illustrates the dangerous consequences of historical silencing and how the incorporation of hidden histories into the mainstream understanding of the past can contribute to a more inclusive experience of belonging in the present. There can be no justice without acknowledging and remembering injustice. As Newsome demonstrates, if a marginalized community seeks a history that liberates them from the confines of silence, they must often write it themselves.

About W. Jake Newsome:

Dr. Jake Newsome is an award winning scholar of German and American LGBTQ+ history whose research and resources educate global audiences. His work as a public historian is dedicated to making high quality scholarship accessible, engaging, and relevant to diverse audiences beyond the classroom. By shining light on the LGBTQ+ past, Newsome seeks to guide learners through a study of history to develop an ethical sense of compassion and wrestle with the ideals and challenges of responsible citizenship. His new book, "Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust" traces the transformation of the pink triangle from a Nazi concentration camp badge into a global symbol of pride. The Lambda Literary Foundation named it as one of its most anticipated new LGBTQIA+ books of 2022. Since earning his Ph.D. in history, Newsome has published in academic journals as well as popular outlets like the Washington Post, and has appeared as a guest on podcasts, including Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness. In addition to serving as a historical advisor for film projects, exhibits, and plays, Newsome has been invited by the French, UK, and US governments to speak about the important lessons that LGBTQ+ history has for all of us today. He now works as a museum professional in Washington, DC.