Review, books: Sailors and Sexual Identity

[stewardess]

Title: Sailors and Sexual Identity: Crossing the Line Between "Straight" and "Gay" in the U.S. Navy
Author: Steven Zeeland
Publication Date: 1995

First: this book is hot. But I recommend it because it's one of the few books on gays in the military that explores how complex sexual identity is for everyone, not just gay and bisexual people.

Each chapter is a first-person recollection from a serviceman, some of whom identify as gay, some bisexual, some straight, some not sure. All have had same-sex sexual relationships.

Zeeland advances an interesting theory: that the military fears equality for gays not because they are worried about gays enlisting, but because it will force them to be open about the strong element of homo-eroticism in the armed forces. By denying that there are gays in the military, the military can keep its head in the sand. Zeeland points out that homo-eroticism has been a part of military bodies for thousands of years, with traditions that go back centuries. It's extremely interesting and thought-provoking. Oh, and hot. :)

Comments

[ironed_orchid]

that the military fears equality for gays not because they are worried about gays enlisting, but because it will force them to be open about the strong element of homo-eroticism in the armed forces

That sounds interesting, and is certainly something that seems initially plausible.

Thanks for the Review.

[stewardess]

This book also answers the question: can two people find places to have sex on a submarine? The answer is yes. :)

[damned_colonial]

I am not surprised to hear this. Not even remotely.

[stewardess]

I hope you get a chance to read it. There is also a lot of information on finding places on aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers... :)

[recessional]

but because it will force them to be open about the strong element of homo-eroticism in the armed forces.

I realize this book is fifteen years old to boot, but is he also suggesting that the US military in PARTICULAR has that strong homoerotic element, or is he making a blanket statement of all militaries?

[stewardess]

I'd say he's not making a statement about all military organizations throughout history. His examples all come from the U.S. military, which contains traditions and organizational elements from the British, who borrowed from many different nations, some outside of Europe, but principally France and Germany. All European nations were initially influenced by Rome, which was influenced by the Greeks.

Some Naval traditions pre-date navies. For example, a sailor dresses as a woman and is wed to another sailor standing in for Neptune -- once probably pre-Christian religious rites.

Here are some pics of the ritual (performed during an equator crossing these days) from the Naval Institute. The photos date from the 40s or 50s, but the rituals are still performed today.

[recessional]

I suppose I am dubious because, as a Canadian, our military comes from roughly the same background, allowed queer servicemembers in 1992 (three years before the book was published) and certainly never did anything like "[becoming] open about the strong element of homo-eroticism in the armed forces." We just had queer servicemembers.

So I am wondering if Zeeland is identifying something special about the USF that's different from the CF, despite their intensely shared history and similar cultures, that would require that, or lead to that particular fear in face of evidence in other countries to the contrary. (Or if it's another case of "wait, other countries are DIFFERENT from us?" which also happens.)

[stewardess]

Exactly, the late 80s, early 90s was when many nations officially dropped their bans on gay service members. I was thinking about that, too, while reading the book.

I believe there is a cultural difference. The US military is far more socially backward than that of other western industrial nations.

The US is the only Western industrial nation to still have a ban, and it's been the slowest to integrate women into male-only worlds such as aircraft carriers and submarines. The combination of homophobia and homoeroticism is strongest in the navy, which has had the highest percentage of discharges for homosexuality since DADT went into effect.

It's not addressed in this book, but in "Conduct Unbecoming" homophobia becomes clearer as a tool to oppress and marginalize female service members, who are discharged for homosexuality at a shockingly higher rate. Personally, I believe the armed forces clings to DADT as a way to ensure male supremacy in the army. Zeeland's theory may have a role, but I don't think it's a big one.