Event to remember gay suffering

It was described as an opportunity to remember all those who died

A special ceremony took place at Liverpool's St John's Gardens in memory of the thousands of homosexuals who suffered at the hands of the Nazis.

It was part of the events to leading up to National Holocaust Memorial Day being held in the city on Sunday.

A pink wreath in the shape of a triangle, the badge that gay men were forced to wear, was laid prior to a two-minute silence.

Over 65,000 homosexuals were interred or murdered between 1934 and 1945.

The wreath was laid by representatives from the Homotopia festival, Armistead, a sexual health service for gay and bisexual men, Lambda Centre Warsaw and Merseyside Police Anti-Hate Crime Unit.

Homosexuals 'targeted'

Director of the Homotopia festival, Gary Everett, who has organised the wreath-laying event said: "The Holocaust was one of the most horrific and evil chapters in modern history.

"It is of continuing importance that we not only remember the many lives lost but always be vigilant that something of this magnitude never happens again."

Liverpool's Lord Mayor, Councillor Paul Clark, said: "Holocaust Memorial Day gives us all the opportunity to remember those groups who were persecuted during the Holocaust.

"We know Jews were the primary victims of the racism experienced during this horrendous period, but homosexuals were also targeted along with Roma gypsies and disabled people.

"All the events running up to Sunday's main commemorative event play a pivotal role in educating people of all ages about the atrocities experienced during the Holocaust and more recent genocides."