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

[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.