Buying Gay by David K. Johnson HARDBACK 9780231189101

Name: Buying Gay by David K. Johnson HARDBACK 9780231189101
Brand: Columbia University Press

Columbia University Press

Discover the fascinating history of how physique entrepreneurs ignited a movement in David K. Johnson's "Buying Gay." This compelling book reveals how publications produced for gay men in the 1950s and 1960s served as a crucial initiation into gay culture, fostering community and resistance. Explore the vibrant world of 'physique entrepreneurs' – the men and women who ran photography studios, mail-order catalogs, and other niche businesses catering to gay audiences. Johnson argues that this gay commerce was not peripheral but a vital catalyst for the gay rights movement. With insights into the lives of entrepreneurs and their customers, "Buying Gay" presents a wealth of illustrations and explores the dynamic between the market and the movement. The book highlights how physique magazines, with their large circulation, became significant gay media outlets, challenging censorship laws and paving the way for open expression. It details the legal battles, including a landmark victory for full-frontal male nudity, demonstrating how consumer culture fostered a site for resistance and helped redefine the history of the gay rights movement. Product Summary: Buying Gay: How Physique Entrepreneurs Sparked a Movement, Hardcover Book, History Genre, English Language, published by Columbia University Press, ISBN 9780231189101.