States of Liberation: Gay Men between Dictatorship and Democracy in Cold War Germany by Samuel Clowes Huneke (review).

"States of Liberation: Gay Men between Dictatorship and Democracy in Cold War Germany" by Samuel Clowes Huneke is a book that explores the experiences of queer individuals in Cold War Germany. Huneke draws on primary evidence, including previously unexplored Stasi records, to shed light on the lives of these individuals. However, there are some interpretive issues in the book, particularly regarding the author's argument that East Germany was more liberal and permissive of queer liberation than West Germany. The book also raises questions about the sources used, which primarily come from a repressive surveillance state. Overall, the book challenges concepts like "homophobia" and "gay liberation" and offers a nuanced perspective on queer culture in Cold War Germany. [Extracted from the article]