The Lilac People

by Milo Todd

When the theater showed films, he always had tickets for the rest of his friends, particularly for the invert and transvestite films. Old or new, silent or sound, they did not care as long as it nodded toward their kind. Especially trouser roles, even if the endings or morals were not always what they wanted. They were eagerly anticipating the release of Viktor und Viktoria next year. Doktor Hirschfeld had helped create Anders als die Andern back in 1919, the first homosexual-positive film, but it was banned soon after release. Doktor Hirschfeld managed to argue it was educational, however, and at least was granted permission to show it within his own Institut. It was during one of those showings that Bertie and Gert had met Markus, Gebhardt, and Karsten, and their small group had formed. They since dedicated themselves to meeting a few nights a week to drink and talk. The Eldorado was their favorite spot because it welcomed transvestites without being exclusively for women. There were clubs and meeting spots all over Berlin for what seemed every type of the third sex. Half the time Bertie could not name all the ones still open despite the latest laws. There were events and shows and parties given frequently by the Transvestite Association D’Eon, the Deutscher Freundschaftsverband, the Bund für Menschenrecht, and his own Institut für Sexualwissenschaft. But out of all of them, the Eldorado was his home.