Farm Boys: Lives of Gay Men from the Rural Midwest

Farm Boys: Lives of Gay Men from the Rural Midwest

Homosexuality is often seen as a purely urban experience, far removed from rural and small-town life. Farm Boys undermines that cliche by telling the stories of more than three dozen gay men, ranging in age from 24 to 84, who grew up in farm families in the midwestern United States. Whether painful, funny, or matter-of-fact, these plain-spoken accounts will move and educate any reader, gay or not, from farm or city.

Â Â Â Â Â â€œWhen I was fifteen, the milkman who came to get our milk was beautiful. This is when I was really getting horny to do something with another guy. I waited every day for him to come. I couldnâ€™t even talk to him, couldnâ€™t think of anything to say. I just stood there, watching him, wondering if he knew why.â€â€”Henry Bauer, Minnesota

Â Â Â Â Â â€œWhen I go back home, I feel a real connection with the landâ€”a tremendous feeling, spiritual in a way. It makes me want to go out into a field and take my shoes off and put my feet right on the dirt, establish a real physical connection with that place. I get homesick a lot, but I donâ€™t know if I could ever go back there and live. Itâ€™s not the kind of place that would welcome me if I lived openly, the way that I would like to live. I would be shunned.â€â€”Martin Scherz, Nebraska

Â Â Â Â Â â€œIf there is a checklist to see if your kid is queer, I must have hit every one of themâ€”all sorts of big warning signs. I was always interested in a lot of the traditional queen thingsâ€”clothes, cooking, academics, music, theater. A farm boy listening to show tunes? My parents must have seen it coming.â€â€”Joe Shulka, Wisconsin

Â Â Â Â Â â€œMy favorite show when I was growing up was â€˜The Waltonsâ€™. The showâ€™s values comforted me, and I identified with John-Boy, the sensitive son who wanted to be a writer. He belonged there on the mountain with his family, yet he sensed that he was different and that he was often misunderstood. Sometimes I still feel like a misfit, even with gay people.â€â€”Connie Sanders, Illinois

Â Â Â Â Â â€œAgriculture is my life. I like working with farm people, although they donâ€™t really understand me. When I retire I want the word to get out [that Iâ€™m gay] to the people Iâ€™ve worked withâ€”the dairy producers, the veterinarians, the feed salesmen, the guys at the co-ops. Theyâ€™re going to be shocked, but their eyes are going to be opened.â€â€”James Heckman, Indiana
Country USA
Brand University of Wisconsin Press
Manufacturer University of Wisconsin Press
Binding Paperback
ItemPartNumber part_0299150844
ReleaseDate 1998-03-15
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780299150846

Country	USA
Brand	University of Wisconsin Press
Manufacturer	University of Wisconsin Press
Binding	Paperback
ItemPartNumber	part_0299150844
ReleaseDate	1998-03-15
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780299150846

Farm Boys: Lives of Gay Men from the Rural Midwest

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