Appendix — Theory of Homosexuality
Original, congenital, enduring homosexuality would appear to be an exclusively human peculiarity. It is very doubtful whether a similar condition exists among animals. We recognize among the lower animals homosexual acts, but no homosexuality.564 Thus we have no philogenetic starting-point for the explanation of homosexuality. Moreover, homosexuality is fundamentally different from the other sexual perversions, sadism and masochism. These represent quite extreme forms of biological phenomena, an abnormal increase of physiological impulsive manifestations that occur in the normal heterosexual life, as part of sexuality in general. But homosexuality is an alteration in the direction of the very impulse itself—a change in the very nature of sexuality. To put the matter shortly, it is the appearance of a sexuality heterogeneous to and not corresponding with the bodily structure. To define homosexuality as the appearance of a feminine sexual psyche in a masculine body, or of a masculine sexual psyche in a feminine body, does not apply to all cases—for example, it does not apply to virile urnings or to tribades who remain womanly. The definition of homosexuality as a sexuality which does not correspond to the bodily structure embraces both these possibilities.
Whenever homosexuality in men is associated with a marked development of feminine secondary sexual characters, or in women with a marked development of masculine secondary sexual characters, the homosexual sensibility may be said to have to some extent a physical basis, but not completely so. For the “intermediate stage theory” proposed by Hirschfeld—the intermixture of feminine and masculine characters—may apply satisfactorily to “bisexuality,” to indeterminate sexual sensibility; but it does not apply to the thoroughly one-sided, monistic sexual sensibility, directed only towards members of the same sex, and often appearing very early, before the days of puberty. Moreover, in heterosexual male individuals the external appearance may at times suggest that there is a strong intermixture of feminine characters. These men, though heterosexual, have a womanly appearance.
The “intermediate stage theory” of Hirschfeld, which von Krafft-Ebing also appears to have recognized in his last work (“New Studies in the Subject of Homosexuality”), a theory which explains homosexual phenomena as dependent upon the existence of transitional stages between the sexes (“sexual links” of Hirschfeld), and which, moreover, erroneously includes the typical hermaphrodite states—this interesting theory explains a portion only of original homosexuality. It fails in cases in which homosexuality occurs in the absence of any divergence from type—for example, in those cases in which male individuals with thoroughly normal masculine bodies exhibit marked homosexual sensibility in early childhood, long before puberty. But these are the cases which offer the greatest possible difficulties to a scientific explanation. Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
Ulrich’s “feminine soul in a masculine body” applies to effeminate urnings, such as he was himself. But is the mode of sensibility of virile homosexuals “effeminate”? Why do we speak of a third sex? Here lie difficulties which we cannot overcome without further assistance.
How does it come to pass that the central organs in homosexuals do not correspond to the peripheral sexual organs, although the latter are formed embryologically long before the former, so that the central organs should properly be guided in their development by the peripheral organs? But they are not so guided. That is only explicable in this way—that the association between the central organs and the peripheral organs is interrupted by a third influence, and that this last influence has a peculiar effect upon the central organs altogether independent of the nature of the reproductive glands.
I will formulate this new theory of homosexuality in the following terms:
1. The so-called “undifferentiated stage” of the sexual impulse (Max Dessoir) may often fail to appear in cases in which the sexual impulse, either in heterosexuals or homosexuals, is definitely directed before puberty unmistakably towards the members of one particular sex. Especially in homosexuals do we often see before puberty the clear and unmistakable direction of the sexual impulse towards members of the same sex.
2. A critical theory of homosexuality must also explain the extreme cases; above all, it must also explain male homosexuality associated with complete virility.
3. The sexual organs and the reproductive glands cannot be the determining cause, because homosexuality makes its appearance in association with thoroughly typical male reproductive organs; nor can the brain be the determining cause in cases of true homosexuality, for, notwithstanding the intentional and unintentional operation of heterosexual influences on thought and imagination, homosexuality cannot be eradicated, and continues to develop.
4. Since this homosexuality often makes its appearance as an inclination (not as the sexual impulse) long before puberty, and before the proper activity of the reproductive glands is developed, it appears a reasonable suggestion that in homosexuality some physiological manifestation associated with “sexuality,” but not directly associated with the reproductive glands, undergoes a change which results in an alteration of the direction of the sexual impulse.
6. The most obvious influences to think of in this connexion are chemical influences, changes in the chemistry of sexual tension, which latter is certainly to a large extent independent of the reproductive glands, since it may persist in eunuchs. But the nature of this sexual chemistry is still entirely obscure.
Such a way of conceiving the process is thoroughly reasonable and tenable on scientific grounds, as was shown by E. H. Starling and L. Krehl565 in their communication to the Scientific Congress at Stuttgart in the year 1905, regarding disturbances of chemical correlation in the organism, especially disturbances of the chemical influences proceeding from the reproductive organs. All minuter details regarding these “sexual hormone” (to use Starling’s own phrase) are still unknown, but the experiments to which we alluded in an earlier chapter have proved their existence. In my view, the anatomical contradiction, the natural monstrosity, of a feminine—or, at any rate, an unmanly—psyche in a typical masculine body, or that of a feminine or unmanly sexual psyche associated with normally developed and normally functioning male genital organs, can only be explained in this manner by taking into account this intercurrent third factor. This can be deduced very readily from some early embryonic disturbances of sexual chemistry. This would also explain why it is that homosexuality so often occurs in perfectly healthy families, as an isolated phenomenon which has nothing to do either with inheritance or with degeneration. When von Römer, on the contrary, describes homosexuality as a process of “regeneration,” we must maintain that for this view there are no sufficient grounds. Here begins the riddle of homosexuality; for me, at any rate, it is one. My own theory only attempts to explain the proper physiological connexions of homosexuality better, and, above all, more scientifically than earlier theories. With regard to the ultimate cause of the relatively frequent occurrence of homosexuality as an original phenomenon, this theory has, however, nothing to say.
I do not suggest that I am able for a moment to find the ultimate reason of the being and nature of homosexuality. There remains here a riddle to be solved. But from the standpoint of civilization and reproduction homosexuality is a senseless and aimless dysteleological phenomenon, like many another “natural product”—as, for example, the human cæcum. In an earlier chapter I drew attention to the fact that civilization has entailed an increasingly sharp sexual differentiation—that is, the antithesis between “man” and “woman” has become continually clearer. The distinction between the sexes is a product rather of civilization than of primitive nature. All sexual indifference, all sexual links, are primitive characters. Eduard von Mayer rightly believes that in the earliest days of the human race homosexuality was much more widely diffused than it is at present, that, in fact, it came into being side by side with heterosexual love. Civilization by means of inheritance, adaptation, and differentiation, has continually more and more limited the extent of the homosexual impulse. Unquestionably the homosexual human being, as human being, has the same right to exist as the heterosexual. To doubt it would be preposterous. Also, as a sexual being, in so far as only the individual aspect of love comes under consideration, the homosexual has an equal right. But for the species, and also for the advancement of civilization, homosexuality has no importance, or very little. It is obvious that, as a kind of enduring “monosexuality,” it contradicts the purposes of the species. Equally obvious is it that the whole of civilization is the product of the physical and mental differentiation of the sexes, that civilization has, in fact, to a certain extent, a heterosexual character. The greatest spiritual values we owe to heterosexuals, not to homosexuals. Moreover, reproduction first renders possible the preservation and permanence of new spiritual values. In the last resort the latter are not possible without the former. However obvious it may appear, we must still repeat that spiritual values exist only in respect of the future, that they only attain their true significance in the connexion and the succession of the generations, and that they are, therefore, eternally dependent upon heterosexual love as the intermediary by which this continuity is produced. The monosexual and homosexual instincts permanently limited to their own ego or their own sex are, therefore, in their innermost nature dysteleological and anti-evolutionistic. In speaking thus we leave entirely out of consideration the possibility that temporarily and for the purposes of individual development they may possess a relative justification.566
Moreover, the majority of homosexuals have a deeply rooted sentiment of the lack of purpose and the aimlessness of their mode of sexual perception, and this often gives them a very tragical and pitiable expression. Especially in the case of noble, spiritually important homosexuals, true carriers of civilization, is this sense of the incongruity between homosexuality and life most plainly felt. Even the talented Numa Prætorius (Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, vol. vi., p. 543) recognizes that—
“The love of the majority of men towards the other sex, based upon heterosexual impulse, has undergone a development and refinement, and has obtained a significance which makes homosexual love, in comparison with it, play quite a subordinate part.”
Notes
502 “Contributions to the Etiology of Psychopathia Sexualis,” vol. i., p. 219.
503 Lombroso, at the Sixth International Congress of Criminal Anthropologists at Turin, May, 1906, actually drew a parallel between congenital homosexuality and the congenital tendency to crime! That this parallel is utterly non-existent and that crime and homosexuality differ toto cælo is shown luminously by Paul Näcke (“Comparison between Criminality and Homosexuality,” published in the Monatsschrift für Kriminalpsychologie, 1906, pp. 477-487).
504 Published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, edited by Magnus Hirschfeld, vol. iii., p. 5 (Leipzig, 1901). Cf. also the account of the newer views by P. Näcke, “Problems in the Domain of Homosexuality,” published in the Allgemeine Zeitschrift für Psychiatrie, 1902, vol. lix., pp. 805-829 (this writer also maintains the existence of normal, healthy homosexual individuals).
505 Magnus Hirschfeld, “Der Urnische Mensch,” p. 139 et seq. (Leipzig, 1903).
506 Von Krafft-Ebing, “Retarded Homosexuality,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1901, vol. iii., pp. 7-20.
507 J. E. Meisner, “Uranism, or the so-called Homosexual Love,” p. 11 (Leipzig, 1906).
508 Max Katte (“Virile Homosexuals,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, vol. vii., p. 94; Leipzig, 1905) remarks that it is an error on the part of recent writers in the domain of homosexuality to describe and vindicate so prominently the effeminate type of homosexual man, and to neglect the virile type. The same is true as regards the description of the corresponding types of homosexual women.
509 This occurs also in heterosexual boys. I extract the following passage from the unpublished autobiography of a homosexual physician: “When puberty occurred I am not able to say—I expect it was about the age of sixteen or seventeen—but I know certainly that I noticed at the time of puberty a swelling of the breasts. There was only a slight forward curvature, which did not extend much beyond the areola, and was painful on pressure. I remember distinctly that I was anxious about the matter, and was afraid that there was some inflammation beginning. However, the same seems to occur in every normal man. A student whom I asked about the matter said that he had noticed a swelling of the mammary glands about the age of fifteen; recently, at the age of seventeen, he has had his first pollutions; his sexual sensibility is normal.”
510 “Goethe’s Letters,” vol. vii., p. 314: letter of December 29, 1787, from Rome to Karl August (Weimar, 1890).
511 G. Merzbach, “Homosexuality and Occupation,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1902, vol. iv., pp. 187-198.
512 Cf. W. S., “Woman-Man on the Stage,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, vol. ii., pp. 313-325.
513 This writer is also the inventor of the word “homosexual,” which is found for the first time in his book.
514 Magnus Hirschfeld, “Result of the Statistical Investigations regarding the Percentage of Homosexuals,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1904, vol. vi., pp. 109-178.
515 F. Karsch, “Uranism or Pæderasty and Tribadism among Savage Races,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1901, vol. iii., pp. 72-201.
516 “Traces of Contrary Sexuality among the Ancient Scandinavians: Reports of a Norwegian Literary Man,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1902, vol. v., pp. 244-263.
517 Regarding homosexuality in Japan, cf. also “Pæderasty in Japan,” by Suyewo Iwaya, published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1902, vol. iv., pp. 264-271.
518 In the second volume, now in course of preparation, of my work on “The Origin of Syphilis,” will be found a detailed critical investigation, based upon the most recent data, of homosexuality and pseudo-homosexuality in ancient times and during the middle ages.
519 Cf. “Four Letters of Carl Heinrich Ulrichs (‘Numa Numantius’) to his Relatives,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1899, vol. i., pp. 36-96 (with portrait).
520 Ludwig Frey, “The Spiritual Life of Count Platen,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1899, vol. i., pp. 159-214; and 1904, vol. vi., pp. 357-448.
521 Numa Prätorius, “Michael Angelo as an Urning,” op. cit., 1900, vol. ii., pp. 254-267.
522 F. Karsch, “Heinrich Hössli,” op. cit., 1903, vol. v., pp. 449-556. Hössli was the author of the work “Eros: the Greek Love of Men” (Glarus and St. Gallen, 1836 and 1838, 2 vols.), which, according to Karsch, represented for our own time what Plato’s “Symposium” and “Phædrus” represents for antiquity. Karsch gives an excellent table of the contents and an analysis of the books under consideration.
523 J. E. Meisner, “Uranism,” p. 16 (Leipzig); also verbal communications by Meisner, who was personally acquainted with Bulthaupt, to myself.
524 F. Karsch, “Our Sources for the Consideration of Reputed and Real Urnings,” “Johann von Müller the Historian (1752-1809),” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1902, vol. iv., pp. 349-457.
525 L. S. A. M. von Römer, “Henry III., King of France and Poland,” op. cit., vol. iv., pp. 572-669.
526 J. E. Meisner, op. cit., p. 17.
527 Magnus Hirschfeld, “Sexual Transitional Stages,” Plate XXXII. (Leipzig, 1905).
528 Op. cit., Plate XXXII.
529 F. Karsch, “Duke August the Fortunate (1772-1822),” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1903, vol. v., pp. 615-693.
530 Numa Prätorius, “Georges Eekhoud: a Preface,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1900, vol. ii., pp. 268-277.
531 G. Eekhoud, “An Illustrious Urning of the Seventeenth Century, Jerom Duquesnoy, the Flemish Sculptor,” op. cit., pp. 277-287.
532 F. Karsch, “A. von Sternberg, the Novelist,” op. cit., 1902, vol. iv., pp. 458-571. He obtained sexual gratification by masturbating while looking at masculine posteriora, but also frequently had relations with women.
533 F. Karsch, “Theodor Beza, the Reformer (1519-1605),” op. cit., pp. 291-349.
534 H. J. Schouten, “The Alleged Pæderasty of the Reformer John Calvin,” op. cit., 1905, vol. vii., pp. 291-306.
535 Hans Rau, “Franz Grillparzer and his Amatory Life.” (Berlin, 1903).
536 The love of boys, the “pæderasty,” of the Greeks related to young adult men.
537 I have used the established spelling for this word, although probably its more correct spelling would be “pedication” (derived from pedex = podex).
538 Cf. P. Näcko, “The Kiss of the Homosexual,” published in the Archives for Criminal Anthropology and Criminal Statistics, by H. Gross, 1904, vol. xvii., Nos. 1, 2, p. 177. Cf. also the reports on the tongue kiss published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1905, vol. vii., pp. 757-759.
539 M. Hirschfeld, “Are Sexual Intermediate Stages Suited for Marriage?” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1901, vol. iii., pp. 37-71.
540 We owe to Näcke the recognition of the importance of sexual dreams in the diagnosis of homosexuality and heterosexuality. Cf. his essay, “The Forensic Significance of Dreams,” published in the Archives for Criminal Anthropology, 1889, vol. iii.; also P. Näcke, “The Dream as the Most Delicate Reagent for the Detection of the Mode of Sexual Sensibility,” published in the Annual Review of Criminal Psychology, 1905.
541 M. Hirschfeld, “Berlin’s Third Sex,” p. 26 (Berlin and Leipzig, 1905).
542 The description of this interesting scene, with other details regarding the organization of the homosexuals of Paris, is found in the work of Pisanus Fraxi (Henry Spencer Ashbee). “Centuria Librorum Absconditorum,” pp. 406-416 (London, 1879) (based upon personal reports by Paul Lacroix).
543 Ambroise Tardieu, “Offences against Morality from the Point of View of State Medicine,” German translation by F. W. Theile, pp. 133, 134 (Weimar, 1860).
544 There are also numerous places of public resort which are indeed largely attended by urnings, but are also frequented by heterosexuals.
545 Cf. in this connexion also the remarks of P. Näcke, “A Visit to the Homosexuals of Berlin,” published in the Archives of Criminal Anthropology, 1904, vol. xv., Nos. 1 and 2.
546 Cf. P. Näcke, “Quelques Détails sur les Homosexuels de Paris,” published in the Archives d’Anthropologie Criminelle, 1905, new series, iv., No. 138. See the reference in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1906, vol. viii., pp. 795, 796.
547 Cf. “The Secrets of the Berlin Passage,” pp. 19, 20 (Berlin, 1877).
548 Cf. Pisanus Fraxi, “Centuria Librorum Absconditorum,” pp. 404-406 (London, 1879) (according to the reports of Paul Lacroix, who himself was a witness of the occurrences).
549 Op. cit., pp. 404-407.
550 Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1906, vol. viii., pp. 796, 797. According to d’Estoc (“Paris-Eros,” pp. 207, 208), the male prostitutes in these brothels are more especially men from southern countries—Italians, Orientals, Berbers, and negroes.
551 Cf. Ludwig Frey, “Characterization of Blackmail,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1899, vol. i., pp. 71-96.
552 Cf. Numa Prætorius, “The Criminal Character of Homosexual Intercourse, Considered Historically and Critically,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1899, vol. i., pp. 97-158.
553 Cf. Z. Richter, “Does § 175 afford any Protection? A Criminalogical Study,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1900, vol. ii., pp. 30-52.
554 “Opinions of Roman Catholic Priests on the Attitude of Christianity towards the Criminal Prosecution of Homosexual Love” (Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1900, vol. ii., pp. 161-203); “What Position should the Church Assume towards Homosexual Love and its Criminal Prosecution?” by an Evangelical Theologian (op. cit., vol. iii., pp. 204-210); Caspar Wirz, “Urnings before the Church and Scripture” (Orthodox-Evangelical) (op. cit., vol. iv., pp. 63-108); “Homosexuality in the Bible,” by a Catholic priest (op. cit., vol. iv., pp. 199-243); “From the Memoirs of a (Catholic) Priest” (op. cit., pp. 1172-1178).
555 A letter from Emile Zola to Dr. Laupts on the problem of homosexuality; translated, with an introduction, by Rudolf von Beulwitz (Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1905, vol. ii., pp. 371-386).
556 “What should the People know about the Third Sex?” An instructive work, published by the Scientific and Humanitarian Committee (Leipzig, 1904).
557 Cf. “The Truth about Myself: Autobiography of a Contrary-Sexual,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, vol. iii., pp. 292-307.
558 M. F., “How I See the Matter,” op. cit., pp. 308-312.
559 Cf. Anna Rüling, “What Interest has the Woman’s Movement in the Solution of the Homosexual Problem?” (Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, vol. vii., pp. 131-151).
560 Arduin, “The Woman’s Question and Sexual Intermediate Stages” (op. cit., 1900, vol. ii., pp. 211-223).
561 W. Hammer, “Tribadism in Berlin,” p. 97 (Berlin, 1906).
562 Cf. “A Description of an Urnindes’ Ball,” given by M. Hirschfeld, “Berlin’s Third Sex,” pp. 56, 57.
563 Cf. Martial d’Estoc, “Paris-Eros,” p. 59 et seq.
564 Cf. F. Karsch, “Pæderasty and Tribadism among Animals as recorded in Literature,” published in the Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, 1900, vol. ii., pp. 126-160; P. Näcke, “Pæderasty in Animals,” published in the Archives of Criminal Anthropology, 1904, vol. xiv., pp. 361, 362.
565 L. Krehl, “The Disturbance of Chemical Correlations in the Organism” (Leipzig, 1907). Here, on p. 3, we find: “If we are compelled to assume that many varieties of cells in their rudimentary condition already bear the imprint of a masculine or feminine nature, still this masculine or feminine nature doubtless only undergoes its real development under the enduring chemical influence of the ovaries and the testicles.”
566 This latter view has been maintained especially by Max Katte, in his treatise “The Purpose of the Existence of Homosexuals” (Annual for Sexual Intermediate Stages, vol. iv., pp. 272-288), but he completely ignores the evolutionary points of view. In the same way, Hans Freimark neglects them (“The Meaning of Uranism,” p. 14; Leipzig, 1906); he regards homosexuality as a transition to a state in which “mankind will no longer need gross material contact for purposes of reproduction.”