I can understand why this is considered a foundational text for anyone interested in post/neocolonial or queer studies. That being said, due to when this was published, it’s obvious in both the language and content that amendments are required, especially revolving around trans theory (or honestly the trans experience as a whole). An example of outdated content would be in the chapters about queerness in Thailand and the taboo that impacts both social and legal rights of the citizens. Luckily, this is now outdated as Thailand (just recently in the past few weeks) became the third Asian country (behind Nepal and Taiwan, the latter is also the focus of an essay in this book) to legalize gay marriage. Additionally, this book was published when the predominant term was “post-colonial,” something heavily criticized in later years as it implies that the impact of colonization has ended. As this is not the case (as also proven is not the case within the book itself), I will be using the term “neocolonial.”
However, this book did give a lot of insight into the over-erotizing of colonized cultures, particularly men. I have read about this phenomenon, but the focus was more specific to people of sub-Saharan descent. This book has several essays that look at this phenomenon across the Northern African continent and the Middle East, which definitely deserves more scholarship.
The essays I believe deserve further review and are most relevant to modern scholarship are:
“Rupture or Continuity? The Internalization of Gay Identities” by Dennis Altman
“Vacation Cruises; or, The Homoerotics of Orientalism” by Joseph Boone
“Transcending Sexual Nationalism and Colonialism: Cultural Hybridization as Process of Sexual Politics in ‘90s Taiwan,” by Chong Kee Tan
“Out in Africa” by Gaurav Desai
“Broadening Postcolonial Studies/Decolonizing Queer Studies: Emerging ‘Queer’ Identities and Cultures in Southern Africa” by William J. Spurlin
Each of the above has building blocks for more contemporary scholarship I’ve reviewed in recent years. I think further study could be done and is necessary for many of the locations covered by the above essays as well. However, what I would argue is most significant about this collection is the integration of intersectionality and “third genders” which were common in numerous cultures before colonization (and will also be covered in other books I’m due to read, Redefining Realness by Janet Mock with her discussion on mahus in Hawaiian culture, for example).
Since the material is so outdated in so many areas, I only think this book is worth reading in a context similar to my own: as a foundational text that can be referred to when referencing more up-to-date scholarship.
