Military Trade

by Steven Zeeland (editor)

A same-sex attraction for soldiers and sailors spans the globe and predates the term “homosexual” by several thousand years. But these days “military chasers” are likely to be seen as doubly incorrect. Most are gay men who pursue straight men. And, many of them do it in public. What continues to motivate so many men to brave arrest, violence, and the scorn of gay leaders who condemn any non-gay homosexual desire as “internalized homophobia”?In Military Trade (now updated to include an expanded photo insert!), Steven Zeeland, author of Sailors and Sexual Identity, The Masculine Marine, and Barrack Buddies and Soldier Lovers, brings together an edgy, enlightening, and richly entertaining collection of voices with a passion for servicemen, By turns steamy, hilarious, appalling, and deeply moving, Military Trade challenges assumptions about both chaser and chased and poses pointed questions about the wisdom of those who seek to divide the world into “straight” and “gay.” The interviews and essays collected in this book suggest that, paradoxically, for many men the advances of the gay rights movement have actually made it more difficult to form affectional bonds with other men. Gay sex has never been more openly advertised. But the military love of comrades is something that gay life can’t offer. Military Trade offers groundbreaking insight For anyone interested in queer theory, the construction of masculinity, or sex between men outside of gay urban culture--and for anyone who has ever thrilled at the sight of a man in uniform--Military Trade is must reading.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gay, Military Fiction, LGBT, Queer

316 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 1999

Reviews

[Kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

disappointing that about half of the stories/oral histories included were also included in sailors and sexual identity.

[Elío Sáenz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dunno how military boys in America actually play these games, but when I compare the anecdotes here against my limited experiences, they do ring true. And this book is older than me by only three years! The author has this knack of unwittingly teaching useful tricks to guys like me so kudos to him heh.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i first read this in a class called militarism and cultural fantasies, but i didn't get to read all of it. i've been anxious to pick it back up again and do it all.