Dutch physician, botanist and homosexual rights campaigner. As well as the scientific studies he undertook, Lucien von Römer was greatly interested in history, genealogy and philosophy, and was fascinated by androgyny and homosexuality. He studied medicine at Leiden and Amsterdam in the early 1900s, thereafter establishing himself as a neurologist. As early as 1902 he began publishing papers in the Jahrbuch für sexuelle Zwischenstufen, such as articles on anti-homosexual activity in 18th century Holland and a study of androgyny. An acolyte of the researcher M. Hirschfeld, von Römer helped him to compile statistics on sexual orientation. In 1908 von Römer published a book arguing that homosexuality is innate. He hoped to achieve a PhD with this work, which also proposed a number of variations in human sexual orientation, but the dissertation was rejected by the University of Amsterdam.

His hopes of an academic career dashed, von Römer left Holland in 1909 as physician and botanist on an expedition to New Guinea. Among the plants he collected there were many novelties, some of which were named in his honour. Enjoying the experience of travelling, he decided to settle in the Dutch East Indies in 1913, where he led a varied medical career, especially being involved in public hygiene. He married pianist Eugenie Gallois in 1921, with whom he had one son. Retiring as regional government physician, von Römer became a psychiatrist in Malang and remained in New Guinea until his death.

Sources:
G. Hekma, "Römer, Lucien Sophie Albert Marie von", in R. Aldrich and G. Wotherspoon (eds.), 2001, Who's Who in Gay & Lesbian History: 380
M.J. van Steenis Kruseman, "Cyclopedia of Collectors", Flora Malesiana, online edn:
http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/FMCollectors/R/Roemervon.htm, accessed 1 October 2010.