Pink Triangle Memorial

The Pink Triangle Memorial is a small triangular park located in the Castro District of San Francisco, California. Situated at the intersection of Castro, Market, and 17th Streets, this memorial park covers an area of less than 4,000 square feet. It sits directly above the Castro Street Station of the Muni Metro, across from Harvey Milk Plaza.

Dedicated in 2001, the Pink Triangle Memorial serves as the first permanent, free-standing memorial in the United States dedicated to the thousands of LGBTQ+ individuals persecuted during Nazi Germany's regime. The park's centerpiece consists of 15 sierra-white granite pylons arranged in a triangular formation. Each pylon is inlaid with a pink triangle made of quartz, symbolizing the estimated 15,000 LGBTQ+ individuals who were sentenced to concentration camps during the Holocaust.

At the center of the park lies a large pink triangle composed of rose quartz stones, set among pink rose bushes. This feature serves as a symbol of love, healing, and pride. Visitors are encouraged to take a single rose quartz stone as a remembrance of those lost and to spread a message of hope and peace.

The Pink Triangle Memorial not only commemorates the victims of past persecution but also stands as a testament to resilience, acceptance, and the ongoing fight for equality. It provides a space for reflection and education about LGBTQ+ history and the importance of combating discrimination.