Peacocks, Chameleons, Centaurs : Gay Suburbia and the Grammar of Social Identity

Rating:
Summary: Exploring the other Gay America
Review: While there has been a marked increase in the visibility of gay men in popular culture, from music to television to film, the portrayals often focus exclusively on one particular aspect of gay life in America; the urban gay male who openly displays many of the traits of speech, dress and mannerism that have come to denote "gayness" in modern society. By the same token, much of the body of queer studies has revolved these urban enclaves of gay men, who live in distinct and separate communities from the "straight" world.

What Brekhus has done, very effectively, in this book is expose the world of a very different gay America, that of the suburban gay male. The peacocks, chameleons and centaurs referred to in the title denote three broad categories of gay men and the way in which they choose to live their lives. Peacocks are used as a reference point to begin discussion. They are those seen as "typically gay" in much of America, living in enclaves in urban centers and viewing gay or queer as a noun, something they are at an essential level. Chameleons treat gay as more of a verb and are sometimes referred to as "lifestyle commuters." They live in predominantly straight suburban areas and blend in with the local culture, traveling elsewhere to "be gay." This may include weekend trips to the city or further removed events where gay men gather. Their behavior is very different in environments where they are surrounded by other gay men than it is in their suburban communities. For centaurs, gay is an adjective, one of many which describe them and perhaps not terribly important in the overall scheme of things. They might see themselves for example, as a white suburban accountant, active in their local community, who also happens to be gay.

What I find most refreshing about this book is the way in which it breaks beyond the boundaries of the urban gay community, to explore a suburban gay life you don't hear much about, while still recognizing the significance of the interrelation between these worlds. Brekhus explores both the intersections of and conflicts between people who share one particular trait in common, but choose to express it in very different ways. I think it will be an eye-opening read for those who see gay culture as monolithic. This books helps open a window on the sometimes conflictual question of what it means to be gay in America and offers some valuable insights. I was particularly impressed with the way in which the author manages to communicate the opinions and attitudes of the individuals he interviewed in the writing of this book. This, like any good work of sociology, benefits from conveying the humanity of the subjects.

I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking a broader understanding of gay culture.