Rolf Gindorf

Rolf Gindorf (born May 14, 1939 in Cologne ; † March 26, 2016 ) was a German sexologist . He was considered one of the pioneers of modern German sex research.

Life

Gindorf attended an interpreting institute and earned degrees in French, English, Spanish and Arabic. He was a member of the Mensa International and initially worked as a translator . After further training at the Administration and Business Academy in the subjects of economics, law and social science, he was successful as an export entrepreneur (machines and systems to the Middle and Far East). He then studied sexology, sociology and psychology at the University of Düsseldorf , at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality , San Francisco (CA), and at Maimonides University , Miami (FL). At Maimonides University he received his Ph.D. in Clinical Sexology, then until 2009 he was Clinical Assistant Professor at the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists in Orlando (FL).

As a clinical sexologist, Gindorf headed the “ DGSS Institute ”: the institute for life and sexual counseling of the DGSS ( German Society for Social Science Sex Research ) in Düsseldorf , with gay and AIDS counseling . He was President (1971–1979), Vice President (until 2004) and Honorary President of the DGSS. In 2004 he received the Magnus Hirschfeld Medal for special services to sexual reform .

His main areas of work were u. a .: Sex counseling and therapy ; Gay counseling (first in 1971), AIDS / HIV prevention (first German working group in 1983); theoretical foundations of sexology; Internet presentation (1996 first German-language sexological websites). He was the author and (co-) editor of over 60 sex science publications, including eight books (in German and English).

His international memberships, functions and honors include a .: Science Council, Shanghai Sex Sociology Research Center ; World Association for Sexual Health (WAS); European Federation of Sexology (EFS); Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS); Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS); Editorial Boards, Journal of Homosexuality and 'Sexuality and Culture'; International Scientific Committees, XIII. (1997, Valencia) and XIV. (1999, Hong Kong) World Congress of Sexology and 6th Congress of the European Federation of Sexology (2002, Limassol / Cyprus).

Focus: homosexuality

Gindorf's special commitment was homosexuality in research, advice and private life. As early as 1964, he made his own homosexuality public in a magazine article. In 1971 he founded the "Düsseldorfer Arbeitskreis Homosexualität und Gesellschaft", which successfully lobbyed for sexual reforms in schools. In 1976 he designed and organized the first adult education courses for gays and lesbians .

Gindorf lived in steady gay relationships for almost 50 years, since 1977 with Wolfgang Gindorf , b. Christiaens. Together they sued the Federal Constitutional Court with their marriage request through all instances , which did not allow the lawsuit, but advised the legislature to create a legal institute for gays and lesbians willing to marry. This then led to the Civil Partnership Act , on the basis of which the two were the first couple to get married on October 1, 2001.

Web links

• Sexualforschungs- u. Founded by Rolf Gindorf in 1971 counseling facility
• More details (with picture)
• List of publications