The note, written on yellow legal paper, is posted in a bathroom at the TA Travel Centers of America truck stop in Lake Station.
“Dear truckers, I’m writing a book about trucking, based on your stories,” it begins.
“If you’re here overnight or for a reset, I would love to talk to you,” the note states. “I especially want to hear from gay people, transgender folks, immigrants or other people who don’t fit the trucker stereotype. Text me and we’ll pick a time to talk. I couldn’t do it without your stories.”
The note is written by Anne Balay, a former professor at Indiana University Northwest in Gary who authored the 2014 book, “Steel Closets: Voices of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Steelworkers.” Balay, who is gay, currently teaches as an assistant professor at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.
She returned to Northwest Indiana this summer to conduct research for her next book, tentatively titled, “Invisible Hulks: American truck drivers tell stories of technology, surveillance and sex.”
It will highlight the experiences of professional truckers who don’t fit the stereotypical image of the middle-aged white guy behind the wheel. Instead, the book will focus on truckers who are from the gay and transgender community.
“The trucking industry is at a crossroads, attracting more minorities, immigrants and drivers from the GLBT community,” Balay said, referring to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. “I wanted to learn what the experience is like for these new entrants to the masculine trucking workforce.”
Her first finding? Many of them simply can’t find better work.
“These are desperate people who can’t get any other job,” Balay said.
Two years ago, Balay trained to become a professional truck driver after losing her academia position at IUN. During this stint of a possible new career, she experienced the highs, lows and surprising underbelly of the trucking industry.
“There are so many tragic stories out there, especially involving trans and gay drivers,” Balay said.
Through her research, Balay learned about unfair working conditions, stricter company controls, and the systemic abuse of these drivers.
“Yet they’re not whiners or quitters in any way,” Balay said.
Similar to her exhaustive research for her first book about gay and transgender steelworkers, Balay has become impressed by these gay and trans truck drivers. In 2014, she conducted her initial handful of interviews.
“Those interviews are the start of this new book,” she said.
Since then, Balay has conducted 40 more interviews, with 20 transgender women, 10 lesbians and 10 gay men.
“I’d like to meet with a dozen more if possible,” she said.
One of those transgender women truck drivers was Marilu Rose Fanning, 64, of Lake Station, who recently retired after 30 years on the road.
Fanning has been identifying as a woman for most of her life. (To view a 1987 photo of Fanning, visit my webpage at www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/chi-jerry-davich-staff.html.)
“Most people have a glamorized image of transgendered women, like Caitlyn Jenner, who I’m a big fan of,” Fanning said. “But most of us look more like me, not her.”
Fanning, who’s twice divorced with two adult kids, was widely accepted by other drivers and other colleagues on the road during her gender transition, she said.
“My first wife bought me my first set of women’s clothes,” Fanning said.
Balay’s research found that transgender women in particular have a harder time finding a job than others in the GLBT community. Trucking is often their last stop or last chance for a career.
Fanning, who started in the industry as a man named Michael, agrees with Balay’s research.
“I’ve been trying to get just a part-time, minimum wage, entry-level job for months now, with no luck,” Fanning said. “Obviously, I’m not the image they want to project.”
Balay, however, learned that blue collar, middle-class workers in this country are generally accepting of transgender people, which counters the intolerant stereotype about mainstream America.
“There’s a lot more acceptance than I first thought,” Balay said.
Balay’s previous book, “Steel Closets,” sparked change for steelworkers from the GLBT community, offering them more legal protections, at least in the courts. She hopes the same can be done for GLBT drivers in the ever-macho trucking industry.
When Balay began trucking, she first felt empowered by driving such a massive, powerful and, yes, masculine vehicle.
“The anger I had over losing my teaching position at IUN just melted away after I got behind that wheel,” she said.
Fanning again agreed, noting, “You somehow become one with it. It’s an extension of who you are.”
Balay believes this also holds true for other newcomers to the industry who have felt alienated, neglected or disenfranchised from society.
“Especially transgender women,” she said.
This is why she is looking to talk with more road-tested professionals who don’t fit the common image of a “truck driver” for her next book.
“The problem is that truckers are usually trucking, meaning that their schedule is rigid and unpredictable. But I’m flexible and I’m here to listen to them,” Balay said.
Contact Balay either via email, at annegbalay@gmail.com, by phone, at (610) 714-0927, or on Facebook. Also feel free to contact me to share your story.
Twitter@jdavich
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