The idea of a permanent memorial to gay and lesbian victims of persecution dated from 1970, when gay activists were arrested for attempting to place a lavender wreath at the National War Memorial (Netherlands) on Dam Square in the centre of Amsterdam.
A idea dun monumento permanente ás vítimas da persecución gais e lesbianas data de 1970, cando activistas gais foron arrestados por tentar colocar unha coroa de loureiros no monumento nacional que conmemora ás vítimas da guerra na praza Dam no centro de Ámsterdam.