Hello sailor! : the hidden history of gay life at sea / Paul Baker and Jo Stanley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Baker, Paul, 1972-

Contributor:

Stanley, Jo.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Seafaring life--History--20th century.

Seafaring life.

Sailors--Social life and customs--20th century.

Sailors.

Male homosexuality.

Sailors--Sexual behavior.

Sailors--Social life and customs.

History.

Physical Description:

xiv, 257 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Longman, 2003.

Summary:

When homosexuality was illegal and gay men were closeted there were few safe places to be. Apart from the theatre, passenger ships provided the only space where gay men could be not only out, but outrageously camp. Efficient, able-bodied seamen by day, queens and butches strutted their stuff below deck at night, dressed up as their favourite Hollywood stars. Hello Sailor! opens up a secret world of bold young men having a ball as they sashayed and minced across the world's oceans. For the first time, gay seamen recount their stories and reveal the hidden history of life in the merchant navy. Homosexuality might have been illegal in both the Royal Navy and Merchant Marine, but life on land in the middle of the twentieth century was far more restrictive than on the ships. The thousands of gay seafarers often out-numbered straight men in the catering departments of the gleaming vessels that were the pride of the British fleet -- great cruise liners like the QE2 and the Canberra. Communicating in their own secret language -- Polari -- they were comfortably queer at sea at a time when life on land demanded compulsory straightness. Never before has the full story of homosexuality in the British merchant navy been told. With many original photos and featuring a remarkable cast of characters, this ground-breaking book expands and deepens our vision of gay history. Hello Sailor! will fascinate and appeal not just to those who love the sea or dream of romance on liners, but to anyone interested in the hidden history of secret groups.

Contents:

Ch. 1. When queer was covert

Ch. 2. A place of freedom

Ch. 3 Speaking gay secrets

Ch. 4. Sea wives and meat racks

Ch. 5. Sequins, satin and stilettos

Ch. 6. Ho land! Ho freedom!

Ch. 7. Part of a team

Ch. 8. Swallowing the anchor

Ch. 9. Taking stock of gay heaven

Appendix 1. Interviewees

Appendix 2. Glossary of maritime terms.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 241-242) and index.

ISBN:

0582772141

OCLC:

49692147