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- Title
Buying Gay.
- Authors
Gammerl, Benno
- Abstract
The book "Buying Gay" by David K. Johnson examines the history of homophile culture in the post-war decades in the USA. The author argues that the emergence of gay market power was an important prerequisite for the achievements of the gay movement since the late 1960s. Johnson sheds light on various actors and organizations that played a role in the 1950s and 1960s, including Bob Mizer, Donald Webster Cory, the Grecian Guild, and Lloyd Spinar and Conrad Germain. The book shows that consumer culture was an essential part of the gay scene and not only affected political movements. The text discusses the impact of physique culture on gay politics and culture in the 1970s and 1980s. In particular, the photographer, party organizer, and publisher Chuck Renslow, as well as the leather scene in Chicago, are highlighted. It is argued that commercialization had emancipatory effects, although the author may go too far. It is also noted that capitalism was not always beneficial to the gay cause, especially when it came to competition between physique entrepreneurs. It also discusses how gay consumption could both promote and hinder political movements. However, the author points out that consumption alone is not enough to combat more complex forms of stigmatization. The text also addresses the accusation of racism in relation to physique culture, with the author arguing that this was mainly due to the preferences of the paying white clientele. The author also rejects the accusation of body fascism and emphasizes the positive aspects of physique magazines. Overall, the book is praised as fascinating and important for research on the history of homosexuality. It is also noted that the conflict between political organizations and commercial magazines in the Federal Republic of Germany was less intense than in the USA, but still existed. The text also shows that censorship and repression intensified in the USA around 1960 and similar developments can be observed in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is emphasized that the homophile world of the post-war period was less hidden and ashamed than previously assumed. Finally, it is pointed out that detailed research on queer consumption offers great potential for knowledge that still needs to be further explored.
- Subjects
GERMANY; BUYING Gay: How Physique Entrepreneurs Sparked a Movement (Book); CONSUMERISM; JOHNSON, David K.; LGBTQ+ culture; BUSINESSPEOPLE; HOMOSEXUALITY; GAY people; GAY rights movement; NONFICTION; POLITICAL movements; POLITICS &; culture
- Publication
Werkstatt Geschichte (Transcript Verlag), 2022, Vol 85, Issue 1, p139
- ISSN
0942-704X
- Publication type
Book Review