CHICAGO - "Steel and Velvet" is the true story of a gay man in the Colombian army. Author Juan Cordoba has been granted U.S. asylum and is now living in Chicago. The book, subtitled "A Soldier's Story," has been released in English.
Stationed on the boarder of Egypt and Israel, part of an international peace-keeping mission, Cordoba ( a pseudonym ) vividly describes the challenges of being true to himself and coming to terms with his own sexuality ... within the confines of an all-male military environment.
The hatred and persecution that followed the publication of this book when first published in Spanish lead the author to flee his country and seek political asylum in the United States.
"Religious and cultural mores dictate that what goes on behind closed doors is never spoken about," Cordoba explains, "once this story was published, my life was condemned.
"My hope is that this open and honest chronicle of events during my life as a soldier will encourage youth coming out in their own lives, as well as enlighten those who seek a wider understanding of human sexual behavior," he said.
"Steel and Velvet: A Soldier's Story" is an inside look at being gay in the macho world of the Colombian military. It is available now in English at Amazon.com and also on Kindle.
See www.amazon.com/Steel-Velvet-Soldiers-Juan-Cordoba/dp/1494264811/ .
