“Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust”

Historian Dr. Jake Newsome tells the dynamic and inspiring history of the LGBTQ+ community’s original pride symbol by tracing the transformation of the pink triangle from a Nazi concentration camp badge into a widespread emblem of queer liberation, pride, and community. Drawing from unexplored archival sources and original interviews, Dr. Newsome showcases the voices of LGBTQ+ Holocaust victims and a rich tapestry of queer lives who found meaning in the pink triangle in a post- Holocaust world. The presentation will be followed by Q&A and a book signing.

Dr. Jake Newsome is an award-winning scholar of German and American LGBTQ+ history whose research and resources educate global audiences. His new book Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust (Cornell University Press) tells the dynamic and inspiring history of the LGBTQ+ community’s original pride symbol. It traces the transformation of the pink triangle from a Nazi concentration camp badge into a widespread emblem of queer liberation, pride, and community. The Lambda Literary Foundation recently named Pink Triangle Legacies as one of its most anticipated new LGBTQIA+ books of 2022.

Since earning his Ph.D. in history in 2016, Dr. Newsome has published in academic journals as well as popular outlets like the Washington Post, and has appeared as a guest on numerous podcasts, including Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness. In addition to serving as a historical advisor for film projects, exhibits, and plays, Dr. 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.