Der Eigene, a German periodical established in 1896, represented the world's first ongoing homosexual publication. Founded by Adolf Brand, the journal operated until 1931 and served as a vehicle for his egoist anarchist philosophy. By centering on cultural and scholarly content, the magazine sought to reframe male-male relationships through the lens of ancient Greek pederasty.
Publishing and Egoist Philosophy
Adolf Brand was born in Berlin on 14 November 1874 to a blacksmith. After a brief tenure as a school teacher, he turned to publishing. He drew significant influence from the egoist philosopher Max Stirner, specifically adopting the concept of individual self-ownership for his journal. Der Eigene maintained an estimated 1,500 subscribers, featuring contributions from Erich Mühsam, Kurt Hiller, John Henry Mackay, and artists like Fidus and Sascha Schneider. Brand frequently contributed his own poetry and analytical articles to these pages.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Political Activism and Legal Conflict
Brand’s advocacy frequently brought him into direct confrontation with the German legal system. In 1900, he received a one-year prison sentence for insulting Center Party politician Ernst Lieber. Three years later, he served two months in jail regarding the sexual content printed in his journal. Despite these incarcerations, he maintained an unapologetic identification with his bisexuality during court proceedings.
Gemeinschaft der Eigenen
Following a split from Magnus Hirschfeld’s Scientific-Humanitarian Committee in 1903, Brand co-founded the Gemeinschaft der Eigenen alongside Benedict Friedlaender and Wilhelm Jansen. This organization promoted a vision of homosexuality rooted in virile manliness, rejecting Hirschfeld’s medicalized theories of an intermediate sex. The group organized regular meetings, camping trips, and nudist activities, viewing their mission through a lens of Spartan warrior ideals and pedagogical eros.
Final Years
By the early 1930s, Brand withdrew from public activism, entered into marriage, and retired from his publishing career. He remained in Germany throughout the later years of the war. On 26 February 1945, at age 70, Brand and his wife were killed in Wilhelmshagen by an Allied bomb during an intense aerial bombardment of the Berlin region.
Fast facts
- Born: 14 November 1874, Berlin
- Died: 26 February 1945, Wilhelmshagen
- Primary Occupation: Publisher, writer, journalist
- Language: German
- Active Years: 1896-1931
- Notable Publication: Der Eigene
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the Gemeinschaft der Eigenen?
It functioned as a movement that rejected the idea of homosexuality as a medical condition, instead advocating for male-male love as an expression of virile manliness and brotherly affection.
How did Brand view his own political stance?
He was an egoist anarchist, heavily influenced by Max Stirner’s focus on the individual’s self-ownership.
.jpg)
