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5.0 out of 5 stars
An initial attempt at gay world history!, October 21, 2002
This review is from: The other face of love
With examples from Neil Miller, Colin Spencer, Lillian Faderman, etc., plenty of authors have tried to write gay world histories in the past two decades. However, here is a pioneering book from the 1970s. I almost shouted with glee when I found a copy in a used book store in Berkeley. De Becker describes homosexuality in many cultures. What's great is the inclusion and emphasis placed upon non-European examples here. This book may be male-heavy, but it is still quite lesbian-inclusive, especially given its publication in the 1970s, a time when gay men and lesbians fought. Because De Becker is trying to be exhaustive in his work, he covers everything he can on gayness, and some of it may offend modern readers. For example, he include a picture of a mother spanking a naked girl in the Renaissance, for some reason. Also, there are many photos from movies and art from the 1960s, that would seem cheesy to modern readers. Still, this is a classic gay studies text. If you can find a copy, do keep it and appreciate it.
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