Joe Westmoreland’s semi-autobiographical novel Tramps Like Us — an epic, candid portrayal of American wanderlust and gay identity in the 1970s and ’80s — has returned to print after more than two decades out of circulation.
Originally published in 2001 by a small Manhattan press, the book was largely overlooked at the time, its launch coinciding with the tragic events of 9/11. In the new edition, Westmoreland reflects on the novel’s initial obscurity, writing, “My book was forgotten. Even by me.”
Tramps Like Us follows the journey of a young man named Joe, who travels across the United States by hitchhiking, buses, and “drive-away” car services. From his small-town Missouri origins, Joe escapes an abusive home and moves through cities including Florida, Atlanta, Baltimore, New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, and San Francisco. Along the way, he explores his sexuality, builds friendships, and confronts the era’s defining challenges, including the onset of the AIDS crisis.
While the novel’s title is inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run and its narrative is punctuated by rich references to the music of the period—from Lou Reed to Grace Jones—Tramps Like Us is more than a music novel. It is a vibrant, unpretentious road-trip story that captures the joys and struggles of queer life in America during a turbulent time.
The book’s strength lies in its authenticity and intimacy. Westmoreland writes with a directness and warmth that invites readers into Joe’s world, making them companions on the journey. The narrative captures not only the physical landscape of the country but also the social landscape of gay subcultures, from gritty urban haunts to expansive sex clubs, marked by both exuberance and danger.
Critics have compared Westmoreland’s work to other significant memoirs and novels of gay experience, such as Alan Helms’s Young Man From the Provinces. Unlike Helms’s focus on gay high society, Westmoreland’s Joe is a more ordinary, working-class figure, a “regular Joe” whose charm lies in his earnest pursuit of pleasure and connection amid hardship.
Tramps Like Us also offers a candid look at the darker realities of the time, including harassment, addiction, and the devastating impact of AIDS on the communities Joe inhabits. Despite these challenges, the novel retains a tone of hopeful resilience.
The new edition of Tramps Like Us arrives as a significant literary event this summer, praised for its vivid storytelling and evocative portrayal of a pivotal era in LGBTQ+ history. It is hailed as a “minor classic” that conveys the breadth of life’s experiences with unfiltered honesty.
For readers seeking a moving and unvarnished glimpse into gay America on the road during the 1970s and ’80s, Westmoreland’s Tramps Like Us is an essential and timely rediscovery.
