Allow me to explain my reasoning. In a theory such as Marxist, it's a fact that every object gives sign-exchange value, and when patriotism is being used then it's being used. That's that. However in queer theory everything is about stretching the meaning of words or calling one thing or another a "symbol". For example, the essay reads at the top of page 344 "These two young women are a striking example of same-sex 'doubles' that function as lesbians signs; they look like, talk alike, are dressed alike, are apparently inseparable..."So why is this a lesbian sign?? Just because there's two characters who are identical doesn't mean that the author is trying to convey some queer symbol, that's quite frankly absurd.
That's not to say however that I don't believe there's anything worthy of mention in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Another example given on that same page is instance in which Nick is extremely drunk and suddenly finds himself "standing beside [Mr. McKee's] bed and [Mr. McKee] was sitting up between the sheets, clad in his underwear..." There's no doubt that when this scene was written, Fitzgerald definitely knew it could at least be interpreted as evidence for Nick being gay, even if that wasn't the true intent.
All in all, this essay has not convinced me of queer theory's legitimacy. I find it all around too desperate for any symbols that it takes apart things that have nothing to do with homosexuality, often because there was clearly no intent to reference homosexuality in the text itself. Anything which does give some feel for a queer theme will already be obvious enough that this theory would be unnecessary.
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