Homosexuality Kertbeny, Karl Maria Portrait of Karl Maria Kertbeny. Bruxelles, Ghémar Fréres, around 1865. 5.9 × 9.1 cm. Albumen on cardboard. Very rare. - Karl Maria Kertbeny (1824-1882) was an Austro-Hungarian journalist, memoirist and early human rights activist. In his anonymously published open letter to the Royal Prussian Minister of Justice regarding the Prussian sodomy law (Das Gemeinschädliche des §143 des preußischen Strafgesetzbuches ....) in 1869, Kertbeny coined the term "sodomy". Kertbeny was of the opinion that consensual sexual acts should not be subject to criminal law and argued that homosexuality was an innate and unchangeable characteristic. Very rare. - Photo portrait of the inventor of the word homosexual. - Karl Maria Kertbeny (1824-1882) was an Austro-Hungarian journalist, memoirist and early human rights campaigner. Kertbeny was the inventor of the words homosexual and heterosexual in 1869, in his anonymously published open letter to the Royal Prussian Minister of Justice, regarding the Prussian sodomy law (Das Gemeinschädliche des §143 des preussischen Strafgesetzbuches ..). Kertbeny argued that consensual sexual acts should not be subject to criminal law, and suggested that homosexuality is an inborn and unchangeable trait. This lot is taxed. A 24.95% buyer's premium will be added to the hammer price and 7% (books, art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints, photographs) to the final invoice amount in the European Union. This work is subject to the regular margin scheme. There is a 24.95% buyer's premium on the hammer price and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offsetprints and Photographs) on the final invoice amount in the European Union.