THE PINK LINE

A global exploration of LGBTQ issues in the 21st century in relation to public policy, human rights, and economic pursuits.

In his expansive new undertaking, South African journalist Gevisser offers sharp insights into queer cultures throughout the world. Early on, he defines the titular pink line: “between those places increasingly integrating queer people into their societies as full citizens, and those finding new ways to shut them out now that they had come into the open.” In the current century, writes the author, “new battlegrounds [are] opening up new frontiers of the culture wars.” Traversing across a diverse selection of countries, Gevisser shares stories from either side of the line, reflecting a broad sweep of gay and transgender human rights and cultural challenges. These include a newly partnered gay male couple (Israeli and Palestinian) exploring their relationship in gay-friendly Tel Aviv, tested by the social intolerance directed toward Palestinians; a lesbian couple in Cairo struggling to keep their gay-leaning cafe afloat after the Arab Spring; a transgender woman in Moscow and another in Malawi, each caught up in her country’s bureaucratic restrictions. In alternating chapters, the author expands on emerging themes. He explores gender ideology and fluidity and how trans-related concerns have gained prominence. He examines the sociopolitical and economic motivations of these countries regarding their level of LGBTQ support, and he reports on anti–LGBTQ laws that expand and contract in response to right-wing or religious influence. Gevisser’s journalistic acumen and breadth of research are impressive. While he offers an unprecedented scope, however, the densely packed text lacks a unifying narrative flow, reading more like a series of articles (several of the chapters were derived from previously published pieces). Consequently, sometimes the author’s capable storytelling skills take a back seat to what often feels like an excessive overflow of reporting.

Not fully compelling but a solidly researched, important addition to queer studies.