Steel and Velvet: A Soldier's Story

This novel is based on the true story of a gay soldier in the Colombian army. Juan Cordoba, a pseudonym, tells of his work on an international peace-keeping mission on the borders of Egypt and Israel. “Being born gay in a straight society, I faced the challenge of being true to myself and coming to terms with my own sexuality, while also living within the confines of an all-male military environment,” Juan writes. The hatred and persecution that followed the publication of this book in Spanish caused Juan to flee his home country. “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,” Juan said. Look inside to read about a life rarely documented, a soldier’s story of being gay in the macho world of the Colombian military.