Long-haul
trucking is linked to almost every industry in America, yet somehow
the working-class drivers behind big rigs remain largely hidden from
public view. Gritty, inspiring, and often devastating oral histories
of gay, transsexual, and minority truck drivers allow award-winning
author Anne Balay to shed new light on the harsh realities of
truckers' lives behind the wheel. A licensed commercial truck driver
herself, Balay discovers that, for people routinely subjected to
prejudice, hatred, and violence in their hometowns and in the job
market, trucking can provide an opportunity for safety, welcome
isolation, and a chance to be themselves--even as the low-wage work
is fraught with tightening regulations, constant surveillance,
danger, and exploitation. The narratives of minority and queer
truckers underscore the working-class struggle to earn a living while
preserving one's safety, dignity, and selfhood.
Through
the voices of drivers from marginalized communities who spend eleven-
to fourteen-hour days hauling America's commodities in treacherous
weather and across mountain passes, Semi
Queer
reveals the stark differences between the trucking industry's
crushing labor practices and the perseverance of its most at-risk
workers.