ARTIST
I do not remember the first time I saw a photograph of Peter Berlin. He is striking and unforgettable. He is a Tom of Finland figure bursting from the page.
Peter is a German-born artist, photographer, filmmaker, and gay pioneer who rose to fame in San Francisco in the 1970s. Known for his pre-smartphone selfies, over-the-top style, and erotic imagery, Peter was a cross between gay liberation and the sexual revolution.
In his photographs and three-dimensional life, Peter appeared in tight jeans, tailored leather clothing, and fetish fashion with over-the-top theatricality. This unique combination made him a celebrated figure in the LGBTQ community.
Peter also starred in two cult-classic erotic films: Nights in Black Leather (1973) and That Boy (1974), which he also wrote, produced and directed. These films not only showcased his unique style but also explored themes of eroticism and self-discovery, further cementing his influence on gay culture.
Despite his status as a cultural icon, Peter lived a relatively private life in his later years, focusing on art and reflecting on his impact. Peter’s legacy endures as a pioneer of queer visibility and self-expression, representing an era when individuality and creativity flourished despite societal constraints.
— August Bernadicou, Executive Director of The LGBTQ History Project
"I grew up in Berlin just after the war. You see, I'm an old, old man, but when I'm not talking to you, I feel very young. I avoid looking in the mirror and seeing my old face. I had a great upbringing with a lot of freedom because my mother was busy. We grew up, more or less, with my grandmother, and we were left alone. My father died in the war, so I didn’t have a dominating father telling me what to do. I had a great time in the ’60s in Berlin. And, of course, my childhood in the ’50s and ’40s was fabulous.
When I got to America, I was very surprised by how many people had really problematic childhoods and so much drama. I didn’t have that. I look back fondly. I grew up with my sister and brother, and it was just a very beautiful, peaceful time to be a child. Then, in the ’70s, I came to America.
No one on this planet is truly free. Especially now. It’s a weird time. If I were free—or if people were truly free—the world would look a little different. Do you feel free? If I ask you that question, you’ll notice that in every corner of life, there are laws in place. You can’t do certain things; they’re prohibited. I don’t feel free at all, but I think I feel freer than many other people.
The only real excitement I remember was being Peter Berlin in the ’70s and ’80s. It always had to do with sex—the expression of what I feel is the best thing nature has given us. You know, that excitement just before you climax? I was very good at prolonging that. But that was 20 years ago—or I don’t know, time flies. That excitement doesn’t exist for me anymore. I’m not excited by much.
I never thought of myself as different. Everyone is different in their own way. I believe very much in individuality. I lived my life in a way that explored sexual activity differently than most people. I heard someone talking about how in San Francisco people would go to the park, get naked, and do whatever they did. I never found that exciting. For me, sex was more like theater. The act itself wasn’t the main thing for me. That’s why, in that sense, I’m different.
Looking back now at the whole Peter Berlin thing, I’m amazed that people like you still want to ask me about it. I really am just a normal, average person. The beauty of it all was looking in the mirror and liking what I saw. That gave me the drive to share it. When I dressed up and created my image, I remember others in the ’70s and ’80s dressing like me. But I think I did it a little better. That image I created is now all over the internet, and I look at it and think, "Why is it still here in the so-called LGBT community?"
The photographs I took are very honest. There’s no fakery and no makeup. That’s part of why they still resonate. I think modern fashion, by comparison, is boring and unexciting. Look at images from Moscow, Paris, New York, San Francisco, or Berlin—everything looks the same. Individuality is missing.
I think the AIDS crisis in the ’70s and ’80s marked the beginning of a shift. Before that, the street scene in New York and San Francisco was vibrant and very sexual. But when the crisis hit, it pushed all of that away. I’ve always seen myself as a living Tom of Finland figure. But now, when I go out, I don’t see interesting images anymore. Maybe I’m just disconnected from the world today.
When the bars closed at 2 AM in San Francisco, hundreds of people would cruise the streets until morning. That was my excitement—seeing reactions to the Peter Berlin image I created. Others were doing similar things, dressing in leather and creating their own looks, but I think I stood out. That scene doesn’t exist anymore. The internet changed everything. Apps like Grindr make it possible to connect, but the magic is gone.
Some people criticize me, calling me an arrogant, narcissistic queen. It bugs them, but I know who I am. I’m not arrogant or narcissistic, though I think a little narcissism can be good as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. Negative reactions exist, but the positive ones outweigh them.
My image represents a pure kind of male expression. It’s not brutal or overly butch. It’s somewhere in between—not feminine, but purely male. That’s why people still recognize me.
As for life, people throw around big words like ‘art’ or ‘love.’ I say, ‘Get real.’ Don’t waste your time overthinking. Just have a good time. But the world makes it hard for people to enjoy themselves. I went through life without much trouble, and I wish young people could find their greatness and build on it without falling into the trap of doing what someone else tells them to do.
You see, no child dreams of sitting in front of a computer all day. They want to be firemen, prima ballerinas, or something extraordinary. But they don’t become those things. Instead, they ruin their eyesight by staring at screens. The future looks ominous. I went to a restaurant because somebody invited me for my birthday, and next to us was a family. There was a toddler in front of a little TV screen playing some sort of game, and two girls were on the other side of the table with earphones in while they were eating. My God, what is the future of these people? And then there’s the plastic—poisoning our bodies and killing us slowly.
It’s dark, isn’t it? I wish I could see a rainbow, but it’s not there. Even in the ’70s, when I opened my mouth at a dinner party to talk about these things, my friend said, 'Oh, Peter, let’s not talk about that.' People just want to be happy."
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