Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/84

 dye. Legal and popular ideas of more humanely cautious sort are not general. In the British Colonies, not Oriental, similar statutes are enforced, as to the British offender. In the more Oriental British possessions, a modified legislation prevails. But it represents a felony.

In Germany a shifting condition of affairs is noticeable. The public interest in homosexualism is immensely increased within a decade or so, as would be expected in a nation where the proportion of homosexuals of all classes is so large. The topic is no longer regarded as absolutely tabu in even social discussions by serious men and women, taking hold intellectually of its grave social problems. Indeed the rights of the respectable homosexual, whether prince or peasant, as a man now under the ban of useless and mediaeval legal provisions are constantly agitated. A strong petitionary movement has twice memorialized the highest German Legislature, endorsed by all professions and callings, in appeal for the suppression of references in the Statutes to homosexual intercourse, except such provisions as shall guard minor youth and preserve public decorum. Eminent German political men have taken part in the effort to repeal the most useless, or worse, paragraphs of the law. This movement has been made part of the platform of the Social Democratic party in Germany. With all respect to that intelligent and powerful body of citizens and agitators, the connection has not yet proved as useful to the repeal of the laws concerned, as would be desired. The Clerical Party have bitterly and successfully fought against any changes. It is to be observed that before the consolidation of the present day German Empire, many of the States showed a humane and reserved aspect toward homosexualism. When the new Imperial Confederation required a more uniform system in the Criminal Codes, intolerance of homosexual liberty became fixed by the laws throughout the Empire; except that there is no reference to penalties for feminine similisexualism. Under the present (1900) Code, and according to Paragraph 175,