Colors in the Rainbow: Race, Culture, and Sexual Orientation Part II: Latino/Hispanic Culture
Colors in the Rainbow: Race, Culture, and Sexual Orientation Part II: Latino/Hispanic Culture
by Stephen M. White, Psy.D.
Copyright by Stephen M. White, Psy.D.
Hispanic individuals come from many different countries and cultural backgrounds, making generalizations difficult. Despite these differences, the majority of Hispanic cultures regard homosexuality as unacceptable, particularly for men. This apprehension derives from different sources, including the cultural concept of machismo and the role the Roman Catholic church plays in the lives of Latinos.
Cultural issues strongly influence Latino views on homosexuality, especially male homosexuality. The concept of machismo dictates that men serve as a provider and protector of their family and act as the head of the household. Latino families also generally maintain traditional sex roles, with clear delineations of what is proper for men and women. For gay men, the adoption of what is seen as a submissive role is a serious violation of machismo and expectations of male behavior. Anyone who commits such a violation is subject to sanctions that range from disapproval to physical violence.
The conservative views on sexuality held by the Roman Catholic church are well known, and the Vatican continues to express disapproval of homosexuality. There is some variation in how much of a problem this conflict poses in different Hispanic countries. Despite the large number of Roman Catholics, homosexuality is more tolerated in Spanish culture than in many other Hispanic countries, as evidenced by the recent legalization of gay marriage in Spain.
Some Latino men avoid the stigma of homosexuality by denial: they do not identify as gay despite same-sex activity. The major disadvantage of this strategy is risky sexual behavior. In his book Latino Gay Men and HIV, author Rafael M. Diaz discusses the impact that the attitudes in Latino culture toward homosexuality has on the behavior of gay men, including decreased safer-sex practices.
Fortunately for the future of the gay Latino community, the denial of homosexuality in Latino culture is not universal. As more gay men and women come out in the broader culture, gay Latinos are also beginning to come out over time. Although they risk condemnation from traditionalists, brave figures in politics, film, and literature are beginning to acknowledge that they are gay.
Gay politicians are rare to begin with, much less openly gay Latino politicians. The small number of gay Latino elected officials have included Cuban-American Jarrett Barrios in the Massachusetts state Senate, Puerto Rican Margarita Lopez on the New York City Council, Louis Escobar, President of the City Council in Toledo, and Joe Santiago on the Cleveland City Council.
Gay Latinos in film have come a long way from George Hamilton's campy portrayal of Zorro the Gay Blade in 1981. Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar has long been at the forefront of gay cinema, directing Antonio Banderas in Labyrinth of Passion and Law of Desire prior to Banderas' most visible portrayal of a gay man in the landmark film Philadelphia. Almodovar has made a number of other films of interest to LGBT audiences including High Heels, Kika, and All About My Mother.
In addition to Almodovar, acclaimed Mexican director Jaime Humberto Hermosillo has made over 20 films, and is best-known to U.S. audiences for his 1985 film Doña Herlinda and Her Son.
Gay Latino actors include Wilson Cruz of My So-Called Life and Party of Five, and the film All Over Me and bisexual actor Gabriel Romero on the Telemundo sitcom Los Beltran. Prominent gay Latino characters have also appeared in Strawberry and Chocolate (Cuba), and A Year Without Love (Argentina). Documentaries include Paris Is Burning, portraying New York's Black and Latino drag queen community, and De Colores, depicting the struggle of Latino culture to come to terms with homosexuality.
The literary world has also seen many important works by gay Latino authors. Among the most influential works of fiction are John Rechy's 1960s novels City of Night and Numbers, Arturo Islas' The Rain God and Migrant Souls, and Jaime Manrique's Latin Moon in Manhattan, as well as Michael Nava's mystery novels featuring a gay attorney.
With the tension of different levels of acculturation to the larger society. While gay men and women have always been a part of Hispanic cultures, until recently they have been largely invisible. More and more, Latinos are learning that it is possible to be gay, Latino, and proud, all at the same time.
Organizations
Chicago: ALMA (Association of Latino Men for Action) www.almachicago. org, and Amigas Latinas, www.amigaslatinas. org
Los Angeles: GLLU (Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos) (213) 660-9681
Austin, Texas: ALLGO (Austin Latino/Latina Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization
by Stephen M. White, Psy.D.
Copyright by Stephen M. White, Psy.D.
Hispanic individuals come from many different countries and cultural backgrounds, making generalizations difficult. Despite these differences, the majority of Hispanic cultures regard homosexuality as unacceptable, particularly for men. This apprehension derives from different sources, including the cultural concept of machismo and the role the Roman Catholic church plays in the lives of Latinos.
Cultural issues strongly influence Latino views on homosexuality, especially male homosexuality. The concept of machismo dictates that men serve as a provider and protector of their family and act as the head of the household. Latino families also generally maintain traditional sex roles, with clear delineations of what is proper for men and women. For gay men, the adoption of what is seen as a submissive role is a serious violation of machismo and expectations of male behavior. Anyone who commits such a violation is subject to sanctions that range from disapproval to physical violence.
The conservative views on sexuality held by the Roman Catholic church are well known, and the Vatican continues to express disapproval of homosexuality. There is some variation in how much of a problem this conflict poses in different Hispanic countries. Despite the large number of Roman Catholics, homosexuality is more tolerated in Spanish culture than in many other Hispanic countries, as evidenced by the recent legalization of gay marriage in Spain.
Some Latino men avoid the stigma of homosexuality by denial: they do not identify as gay despite same-sex activity. The major disadvantage of this strategy is risky sexual behavior. In his book Latino Gay Men and HIV, author Rafael M. Diaz discusses the impact that the attitudes in Latino culture toward homosexuality has on the behavior of gay men, including decreased safer-sex practices.
Fortunately for the future of the gay Latino community, the denial of homosexuality in Latino culture is not universal. As more gay men and women come out in the broader culture, gay Latinos are also beginning to come out over time. Although they risk condemnation from traditionalists, brave figures in politics, film, and literature are beginning to acknowledge that they are gay.
Gay politicians are rare to begin with, much less openly gay Latino politicians. The small number of gay Latino elected officials have included Cuban-American Jarrett Barrios in the Massachusetts state Senate, Puerto Rican Margarita Lopez on the New York City Council, Louis Escobar, President of the City Council in Toledo, and Joe Santiago on the Cleveland City Council.
Gay Latinos in film have come a long way from George Hamilton's campy portrayal of Zorro the Gay Blade in 1981. Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar has long been at the forefront of gay cinema, directing Antonio Banderas in Labyrinth of Passion and Law of Desire prior to Banderas' most visible portrayal of a gay man in the landmark film Philadelphia. Almodovar has made a number of other films of interest to LGBT audiences including High Heels, Kika, and All About My Mother.
In addition to Almodovar, acclaimed Mexican director Jaime Humberto Hermosillo has made over 20 films, and is best-known to U.S. audiences for his 1985 film Doña Herlinda and Her Son.
Gay Latino actors include Wilson Cruz of My So-Called Life and Party of Five, and the film All Over Me and bisexual actor Gabriel Romero on the Telemundo sitcom Los Beltran. Prominent gay Latino characters have also appeared in Strawberry and Chocolate (Cuba), and A Year Without Love (Argentina). Documentaries include Paris Is Burning, portraying New York's Black and Latino drag queen community, and De Colores, depicting the struggle of Latino culture to come to terms with homosexuality.
The literary world has also seen many important works by gay Latino authors. Among the most influential works of fiction are John Rechy's 1960s novels City of Night and Numbers, Arturo Islas' The Rain God and Migrant Souls, and Jaime Manrique's Latin Moon in Manhattan, as well as Michael Nava's mystery novels featuring a gay attorney.
With the tension of different levels of acculturation to the larger society. While gay men and women have always been a part of Hispanic cultures, until recently they have been largely invisible. More and more, Latinos are learning that it is possible to be gay, Latino, and proud, all at the same time.
Organizations
Chicago: ALMA (Association of Latino Men for Action) www.almachicago. org, and Amigas Latinas, www.amigaslatinas. org
Los Angeles: GLLU (Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos) (213) 660-9681
Austin, Texas: ALLGO (Austin Latino/Latina Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization
posted by Carlos T Mock @ 10:56 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home