Tiemon Hofman

Tiemon Hofman, born April 14, 1925 is unique in that he is the only survivor to ever be officially recognized by his government as a persecutee on the grounds of being gay, and paid reparations on that basis (in 1990). This was only because it was the Dutch government, not Germany, which didn’t recognize queer victims until 2002. Growing up, his mother was deeply homophobic and beat him for his sexual orientation.

Tiemon was first arrested for being gay when he was only 16, after meeting up with another guy at a hotel. Invading Nazis were told about the meet up by the hotel owner. The owner kicked in the door, and hurled slurs at them. Pulled downstairs, a squad of Nazis drew their rifles and captured Tiemon and his friend. Dutch police were no kinder, holding their revolvers against Tiemon and telling him they could shoot them any time they liked, because the Germans hate fa**ots. He was thrown in jail, where the jailers were sadistic and he also suffered harassment from the other inmates for his queerness. He became very ill from pneumonia and pleuritis. A kind doctor from the resistance helped treat Tiemon, and was accepting of him being gay. He helped get him illegal extra rations, and eventually home in 1944.

Tiemon managed to make a life for himself after the war, being part of gay culture in the 50’s and 60’s, and writing gay novels under the pen name Paul Monty. He also published a gay magazine called De Nichten. He fought for years to be recognized as a victim of the Nazis. Because of his conviction he had trouble finding work throughout his life. Tiemon bravely gave video testimony to Dr. Klaus Müller in 1996. It is astounding to remember that Tiemon is the only 1 of over 100,000 persecuted queer men to be officially treated as a victim-survivor worthy of recompense for his suffering.