Jean-Luc Verna’s Sculpture Memorializing Queer Nazi Victims Unveiled in Paris

May 20, 2025
HANK ORSO

A new sculpture memorializing the LGBTQ+ victims of WWII era Nazi regime "and to all LGBTQ+ people persecuted throughout history" was unveiled in the heart of Paris last Saturday, as reported by Edge Media Network. Created by French artist Jean-Luc Verna, the massive black steel work of art resembles a fairy princess's star and wand, toppled and embedded into the ground.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laurence Patrice (@laurence_patrice)

Sitting in a central park near the Bastille Plaza, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo exclaimed its purpose to remember discrimination in history, and as it is occurring in our current time. "Historical recognition means saying 'this happened' and 'we don't want it to happen again,'" Hidalgo said.

The artist describes their work thusly: "There's a black side in front of us, forcing us to remember. ... At certain times of the day, it casts a long shadow on the ground, evoking the dangers looming over, sadly."

The silver side, reflecting the cityscape in its surface, "represents the color of time passing, with the Paris sky moving as quickly as public opinion, which can change at any moment." Verna's description is cognizant of the slide backwards we are seeing with a rise in right-wing nationalism in some European nations, as well as in America.

Between 5000 and 15,ooo people were "deported" during the Nazi's rise to power during WWII, many being sent to concentration camps.

Jean-Luc Roméro, Paris's Deputy Mayor, said, "We didn't know, unfortunately, that this monument would be inaugurated at one of the worst moments we're going through right now....we've never experienced such setback in the United States, with what's happening to trans people."

As reported by CBS News: "Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has issued orders to recognize people as being only man or woman, keep transgender girls and women out of sports competitions for women, oust transgender military troops, restrict federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender people under age 19 and threaten research funding for institutions that provide the care. All the efforts are being challenged in court."

The artist seen below in a Silence = Death shirt emblazoned with the pink triangle, the image and color prescribed to gay men in the WWII camps.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jean Luc Verna (@jean_luc.verna)

Verna, born 1966, is a "polydisciplinary" artist who works mainly in drawing, as you can see on his Instagram, but also in movement, dance, song, and film. Enjoy his group's remake of "Personal Jesus." Like his sculpture, it's pretty rad.