Uniform Prejudice

This book examines the historical experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals facing discrimination in the early 20th-century military before same-sex acts were explicitly illegal. Centered on the court-martial of Private Laurence Edgar Moon in 1912, the book sheds light on the broader landscape of prejudice prior to the explicit criminalization of same-sex acts in 1916.

Through Moon’s case, the narrative delves into the interplay of gender, sexuality, and power within the military and society. Army officers enforced a simplistic binary understanding of sexuality and masculinity, linking moral character to sexual behavior. Moon’s experience challenges this narrow view, revealing the complexities surrounding turn-of-the-century notions of masculinity and sexual identity. Employing a microhistorical approach grounded in queer theory, the book uncovers often-overlooked stories of queer service members who faced discrimination yet remained dedicated to their duty. It also highlights the evolving language and legal definitions related to same-sex acts and the cultural anxieties surrounding them, illustrating the importance of queer theory and microhistory in understanding marginalized experiences.

Uniform Prejudice offers a compelling narrative of a century-long history of prejudice and persecution faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the military. The engaging microhistorical approach captivates readers while addressing significant theoretical and historical themes. This accessible book is aimed at scholars, students, and general readers interested in LGBTQ+ history, military history, and the ongoing challenges and advancements of LGBTQ+ individuals in the U.S. military, urging a more inclusive and intersectional perspective.

Thomas C. Rust, a native Montanan, has been Professor of History at MSU Billings since 1999. He earned his B.A. from the University of Minnesota, an M.A. from the University of Denver, an M.Ed. from MSUB, and a Ph.D. from the University of Leicester. His research focuses on military history in the West, including the U.S. Army’s role in Yellowstone National Park. He is currently studying the underrepresentation of Native Americans in Yellowstone’s history and queer soldiers in the early 20th-century U.S. military. Dr. Rust also engages students in hands-on learning through archaeological research projects along the Lewis and Clark trail.