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A GLBTQ EDUCATION INTERNET RESOURCES Latin America, The Caribbean & Africa: Latin America & The Caribbean

Index: Latin America & Africa -  - Middle East / Asia -  - Race/Ethic Minority Issues: U.S., Canada, Europe,  New Zealand & Australia -  - Homosexuality:  Biological  or  Learned ? -  -  Public School Issues -  - Transgender / Tranvestite / Transsexual -  - Lesbian  &  Bisexual Women -  - Homo-Negativity / Phobia -  - Identity Formation  &  Coming Out -  - Counseling  &  Therapy -  - Professional Education  -  - Bisexuality -  - Religion   &  Spirituality -  - Male  Youth Prostitution -  - HIV-AIDS -  - Gay & Bisexual Male Suicide Problems -  - Drug / Alcohol Use / Abuse / Addiction  -  - GLBT  History -  - Community Attributes  &  Problems -  -  Couples / Families / Children / Adoption / Spousal Violence -  - The Elderly

Latin America & Africa: Latin America (Part 2)

Section Index

Part 2 - "Latin America" (This Page): Central America: Panama - Honduras - Belize - Costa Rica - Nicaragua - Guatemala - El Salvador --- South America: Brazil - Peru - Chile - Columbia - Argentina - Equador - Venezuela - Uruguay - Bolivia - Guyana - Paraguay --- Latin American / Caribbean Resources --- International Issues & Resources.

Part 1 - "Latin America" : Mexico - Cuba --- Caribbean: Jamaica - Trinidad / Tobago - Puerto Rico - Haiti - Martinique / Guadeloupe - Netherland Antilles - Cayman Islands - Bahamas - Bermuda - Saint Lucia --- Latin American / Caribbean Resources --- International Issues & Resources..

Part 3 - "Africa": South Africa - Kenya - Zambia - Namibia - Nigeria - Uganda - Burkina Faso - Botswana - Ivory Coast - Senegal - Egypt - Algeria - Morocco - Tunesia --- Angola - Benin - Burundi - Cameroon - Cape Verde --- Central African Republic - Chad - Comoros - Republic of Congo - Democratic Republic of Congo --- Equatorial Guinea - Erithrea - Ethiopia - Gabon - Gambia -- Ghana - Guinea - Guinea Bissau - Lesotho - Liberia --- Ghana - Guinea - Guinea Bissau - Lesotho - Liberia --- Mauritius - Mozambique - Niger - Reunion - Rwanda --- Sao Tome and Principe - Seychelles - Sierra Leone - Sudan - Swaziland - Tanzania - Togo --- General African Resources --- International Issues & Resources. 
 

LATIN AMERICA

CENTRAL AMERICA

PANAMA: - Panama Gay Pride 2007. -3ra Marcha por la Diversidad Sexual en Panamá (Alternate Link) (Translation). - Panama's congress considers legalization of homosexuality. - Panama Considers Broad-Sweeping Homosexual Hate Crimes, Legalization of Homosexuality. - Discriminación en la Policía de Panamá (Translation). - Homosexuales exigen su derecho a ser policías (Translation). - Gays panameños de acuerdo con ley de salud sexual (Translation). - Cuestionan “consenso” en torno a proyecto de ley de educación sexual en Panamá (Translation): Activistas homosexuales y feministas la apoyan, grupos pro-familia no fueron consultados.

Vergès C (2007). Programas De Educación Sexual En Panamá. Act Bioethica, 13 (1) (Full Text) (Translation). ¿Cuál es el lugar del placer en los programas de educación sexual? En Panamá, como en otros países de América Latina, la violencia contra niños y niñas y contra las mujeres no les permite reconocer la propiedad de su propio cuerpo y menos su derecho al placer. Los programas actuales sobre educación sexual, prevención del embarazo y SIDA promueven el uso del preservativo y la abstinencia pero no hablan de la ética del placer. Frecuentemente, el personal sanitario y educativo no está preparado para hablar sobre el tema. El uso del placer sexual como mercancía en los medios de comunicación introduce mayor confusión. La bioética debe integrar los estudios de la psicología, la antropología y un sentido de humanidad que permitan a este personal trabajar con las personas hacia la apropiación de su integridad como ser humano.

Panamá: Pretenden educar a los niños en la homosexualidad (Translation): La organización de homosexuales y lesbianas hombres y mujeres nuevos de Panamá han introducido un anteproyecto de ley contra toda forma de discriminación por razón de orientación sexual e identidad de género por el que la minoría radical homosexual pretende atentar contra la conciencia moral mayoritaria de los panameños. La prohibición de discriminación contra cualquier ciudadano por cualquier motivo ya está consagrada en nuestra Carta Magna. Por el contrario, anteproyecto de Ley resulta totalitario al imponer preceptos morales contrarios a la mayoría y coartar la libertad de expresión. El anteproyecto de ley pretende “normalizar” la homosexualidad en la sociedad, cuando todavía existen importantes dudas científicas que permiten sostener que la homosexualidad es una desviación de la conducta sexual.Puedes ver el informe en: www.hazteoir.org/documentos/noesigual3.pdf  - A su vez puedes consultar el texto que prentenden aprobar pulsando aquí.

Lanzan campaña contra la homofobia en Panamá (Translation): El coordinador del Programa Conjunto de las Naciones Unidas sobre el VIH/SIDA, UNISIDA en ese país, planteó que la gente debería tener “más temor a la homofobia que a la homosexualidad”. La Asociación Hombres y Mujeres Nuevos de Panamá y la Alianza Estratégica contra el VIH/SIDA lanzaron hoy en la capital panameña una campaña de comunicación contra la homofobia, que reclama justicia, respeto y tolerancia. - Retiran manuales educativos que promovían homosexualidad entre menores panameños (Translation): El Ministro de Educación, Miguel Angel Cañizales, ordenó esta semana el retiro de cuatro manuales de educación sexual cuestionados por promover la homosexualidad entre los escolares con polémicas dinámicas. Según informó el diario El Siglo, Cañizales canceló la campaña de evaluación de los manuales sobre educación sexual que su despacho “pretendía utilizar para cimentar su programa de educación sexual en todo el país, tras una avalancha de críticas vertidas en contra del contenido ‘subido de tono’ y ‘no apto para nuestra realidad social’ de los cuatro manuales en cuestión”.

For Gays in Panama, Change Comes Slowly N/A. - Support The Legal Registration Of Panama’s First Lesbian And Gay Association. (Alternate Link) -  Panama's gays fight for social acceptance.: "In this unashamedly macho society, homophobic music is not uncommon on the radio. Even the gay community has no universally recognized leaders. Gay pride? Out of the question. Still, as in other years, for a few days this year during Panama's pre-Lenten Carnival, the country's gay men were granted permission to run their own floats and have their own gay Carnival queen..." - Help Support Legal Registration of Advocates in Panama. -  Gay group denied legal status (Must Scroll): "The Ministry of Government and Justice has for the second time denied a request by the Asociacion de Hombres y Mujeres Nuevas de Panama for status as a legal entity. The group, composed of gay men and lesbians, was denied status because the ministry found that homosexuals "go openly against the morals of this country." A ministry spokesman denied that the decision discriminates against gays and lesbians."

Panama Gays Fight Homophobia (Alternate Link, Must Scroll): "The gay community in Panama are fighting homophobia in a struggle to be accepted for society. In Panama you can lose your job for being gay. There are no gay lobbyists, no openly gay politicians and no local gay magazines. Society in Panama is unashamedly macho society and it is not uncommon to hear homophobic music on the radio, according to a report by Reuters..." - Panamanian Ricardo Beteta starts gay rights movement. - A Visit to Panama and My Friend Carlos. - Out and About in Panama. - ¿Cuántos homosexuales hay? (Translation) Es una de las preguntas que más inquietan hoy en día a la sociedad panameña, y también es una de las preguntas más difíciles de responder.

Gays to parade, but won't have their own stage (Must Scroll): " The nation's Board of Censors has approved the gay community's application to march and have floats in the Carnival parades, but has turned down an application for a stage for a Panama City drag queen show. Panama's gays have in recent years presented a higher public profile, and have long benefited from this country's general respect for individuals' privacy. However, gay participation in Carnival and events like the annual three crowns female impersonator competition usually draw opposition from some political and religious leaders." - The Heresy of Difference: "In Panama, as in many other parts of America, homosexuality was allowed--until the conquistadors burst in. That night in 1513, Balboa initiated the land in the punishment of the unspeakable sin of sodomy..."

Panamanian starts gay rights movement N/A (2004) (Alternate Link, Must Scroll): "Although in law and society, gay Panamanians are all but invisible, Beteta is gathering petition signatures to pressure the incoming new legislature to give gay couples marriage-like rights. The petition is a giant step forward given that, in many ways, life for the average gay Panamanian resembles pre-Stonewall America... The rapidly changing situation for gays in Panama is part of the sea change sweeping throughout Central and South America, says Michael Heflin, director of Amnesty International's Outfront gay rights project. While violence including murder, particularly against transgendered people, is widespread in the region, only Nicaragua still outlaws sodomy. In 1998, Ecuador followed South Africa?s lead and became the second country in the world to write a ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation into its constitution. In 2003, Mexico passed a nationwide ban on anti-gay discrimination. Meanwhile, Brazil is emerging as a gay rights leader: In 2000, it gave gay couples Social Security rights. For the past two years, it has urged the United Nations to include gay rights in its human rights mission. " - Estas de acuerdo con permitir matrimonios Gays en Panama? (Translation).

Panama's gays fight for real acceptance: (Alternate Link) "But Ana Carolina was Jorge, and Jorge is gay. In Panama you can lose your job for being gay. There are no gay lobbyists, no openly gay politicians and no local gay magazines... But away from the exuberance of Carnival, being gay in Panama isn't easy. "I've been beaten up for being gay," says Ruben, a smartly dressed 26-year-old business student. "People insult me when I walk down the street and I've had problems getting part time jobs. Groups such as the Catholic Church think we are immoral and vulgar." Gay tourists are told to steer clear of Panama." - Gay friendly Spanish language immersion school in Costa Rica and Panama.

Panama Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (2005): Abuse by prison guards, both PNP and civilian, was a recurrent problem. Police officials received and investigated 34 cases of alleged abuse by prison guards from January through June. The Association of New Men and Women of Panama, a gay and lesbian rights group, reported that there were at least two attempted killings of gay inmates by other inmates during the year. It was unclear whether these incidents were under investigation... There were concerns about insufficient police presence at a June 24 gay pride march. Although police authorities permitted the march to take place, they assigned only one police officer to cover the event, in contrast to customary police practice at other marches where enough police were sent to protect marchers and direct traffic... A 1920 law prohibiting homosexuality was not enforced. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS in employment and education, but discrimination continued to be common due to ignorance of the law and of HIV/AIDS. The government provided treatment for HIV/AIDS in at least 80 percent of cases through the Ministry of Health and Social Security, but the government had problems maintaining retroviral medication in stock. The New Men and Women of Panama, a gay rights group, however, averred that employers discriminated against openly gay people. There were no reported incidents of harassment or other abuse against the approximately 200 persons who participated in a gay pride march on June 24 in Panama City. - Informe Anual sobre Prácticas de Derechos Humanos en 2005 en Panamá. - En nombre de la tolerancia (Translation): La homosexualidad en Panamá está penada por ley y alguien con esa inclinación podría terminar preso.

Walk for Life, against AIDS: "Panama’s gay community had many members at the Walk for Life through the November 30 morning drizzle from the corner of Calle 50 and Via Brasil to Parque Omar, but AIDS is not particularly a “gay disease” here in Panama. Of those AIDS cases whose route of transmission is known, 63 percent were from sexual relations among heterosexuals, 30 percent were transmitted by homosexuals or bisexuals, and the other seven percent from mothers to their children. Intervenous drug abuse is not very common in Panama and we have sanitary practices in our health care system under control, so needle sharing and blood transfusions are not major issues here. Gay people are disproportionately infected, but it's the foolish heterosexual who believes that his or her sexual orientation confers immunity..." - Death by Bureaucracy in Panama: International agencies silent about bungled HIV/AIDS treatment. - UNAIDS: There is a concentrated HIV epidemic in Panamá. HIV seroprevalence is estimated at 10.5 % in men who have sex with men (Multisite study on HIV in specific population 2001 - 2002. PASCA, 2003), and 0.9 % in population between 15 to 49 years old (Informe del  Departamento de Epidemiologia  Ministry of Health (MINSA)). Join the fight against AIDS in Panama (PDF Download): In Panama, men who have sex with men represent a signifi cant proportion of the total of AIDS cases. However, this fact is under-reported due to stigma and discrimination. Th e Association of New Men and Women of Panama is the country’s only gay and lesbian organization with legal status. It works on mass condom distribution, social marketing, HIV prevention, and participates in studies on prevalence and sexual behaviours.

Editorial (Translation): La comunidad gay de Panamá tiene la percepción que el tema de los homosexuales  y el VIH es un tema del pasado, y que ahora nosotros hemos tomado conciencia de esta enfermedad y nos estamos cuidando, por lo tanto las cifras están bajando en la población gay masculina... Los datos recolectados en el Estudio Multicentrico de Sero-Prevalencia y Conductual en Población HSH realizado por Proyecto Acción Sida para Centroamérica (PASCA), que se realizara en la región centroamericana y en Panamá en 2002 reveló que la epidemia está concentrada en los hombres gay, con una sero-prevalencia que oscilaba entre 10 a 12%. A pesar de este esfuerzo de organizaciones internacionales para documentar y reconocer la epidemia, la población sigue siendo ignorada en la ejecución de acciones de prevención y en la asignación de fondos, y uno de los ejemplos más dramáticos de la región, es Panamá.

Gay Panama. - Panama Gay Guide. - AHMNP: Asociacion de Hombres y Mujeres Nuevos de Panama (The Association of New Men and Women of Panama). - Queer-Pats Panama: This is a group for gay,lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender (GLBT) men and women and all other open-minded people, who are ex-pats in Panama or have a special interest in Panama and would like to discuss various subjects, e-mail, talk and make friends.

ILGA Report. (Archive Link) - The Eastgarden. - Gay Panama (Global Gayz): - News/Reports. - LGBT rights in Panama. - DonPato's Gay Panama.

Blabbeando Blog: Latin American GLBTQ News / Commentaries: 2005 to Present.
 

HONDURAS: - Honduras Bans Gay Marriage & Adoption (Alternate Link). - Prohiben matrimonio entre homosexuales en Honduras (Translation). - Honduras: no al matrimonio gay. - Honduran Transgender Woman Wins Asylum.

Hate Crimes in Honduras: In Honduras today, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people face persistent harassment and discrimination. This issue is becoming increasingly urgent: two leaders of Arcoiris (“Rainbow”), an AJWS grantee since 2005, were attacked and detained in separate incidents on the streets of Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, in March and April... Donny Reyes, General Coordinator of Arcoiris, was detained by a police patrol on March 18, 2007 while exiting a taxi in Tegucigalpa. Donny had not committed any infraction and demanded to know why he was being detained. -Honduras Donny Reyes (m), treasurer of LGBT rights group: LGBT rights activist Donny Reyes was reportedly arbitrarily detained by police in the ... district of the capital, Tegucigalpa, on 18 March. The officers beat him and then took him to a police station where they left him in a cell for six and a half hours, where other detainees repeatedly raped and beat him, allegedly encouraged by a police officer. Donny Reyes has lodged a formal complaint about this. Since then police appear to have attempted to intimidate him. Amnesty International believes that he, and other members of the organisation he heads, may bein grave danger.

New arbitrary detentions. This time the victims are transvesti people: On Saturday, May 26th, 2007, Claudia Spellmant, a trans activist with Colectivo Travesti of San Pedro Sula was walking by Morazan Boulevard to Francisco Morazan Stadium in San Pedro Sulas City in Honduras, to a music concert, when she was intercepted by the #57 municipal police patrol. The policemen requested her to get in the car without giving any reason. When she refused, they violently detained and brought her to the Municipal Police Department (Posta Municipal). After half-an-hour, seven other women were arrested and brought to the station, three of them travestis. Next, they were physically, verbally, and psychologically abused by the police officers. The Municipal Police General Commander, Colonel Sandoval then gave instructions to hit Nahomy Otero, one of the travestis arrested, saying she disobeyed the instructions he gave to trans people to avoid particular public places, which are only for “normal” and decent people. - Shadow Report on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) Individuals in Honduras. - Honduras/Guatemala: Attacks on rights activists reaching 'worrying proportions'.

Honduras grants official recognition to gay civil rights groups  (Alternate Link). - Legalizan a tres grupos de gays en Honduras (Translation). - Un pueblo pequeño, una vida pequeña (Translation). - La Iglesia de Honduras se opone a los colectivos gays (Translation). - No retirarán autorización oficial a homosexuales en Honduras (Translation). - Personería Gay en Honduras (Translation). - Homosexuales de Honduras obtienen personalidad jurídica (Translation). -  Religious leaders criticize Honduran government for recognizing gay groups. - Churches Blast Honduras For Granting Minimal Gay Rights N/A. - Equal Protection For Gays: "The Comunidad Gay San Pedrana and LLEGÓ, The National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization of Latinas/os, makes an urgent call to the Honduran government and to the governmental agents of San Pedro Sula to end their hypocritical stance and begin respecting the human rights of ALL the citizens of San Pedro Sula and Honduras as a whole."

The Gay and Lesbian Movement in Honduras. - New Filing Deadline is Tested in Immigration Court: Judge Grants Asylum to HIV+ Gay Honduran Man N/A. - Embassy's statement on gays questioned: (Must scroll) "Much has been written about homosexuals in Honduras. To mention a few..." - A Rainbow Flag in Honduras. - Amnistía Internacional, Honduras: Violaciones de derechos humanos contra gays, lesbianas, bisexuales y transexuales (Translation). - Violations des droits fondamentaux des lesbiennes, gays, bisexuels et transgenres. - Human rights violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. - "Cero Tolerancia" para Gays en Honduras: Policía Arresta Activistas Gays (Translation).

Matan a homosexual en Honduras: "La policía dijo que investiga la muerte en esta capital de un homosexual que fue acuchillado luego de discutir con un desconocido, que huyó... Estadísticas policiales indican que de 1998 hasta ahora han sido asesinados por lo menos 200 homosexuales a causa de la violencia que enfrenta Honduras. Pese a la oposición de las iglesia católica y evangélica, el gobierno autorizó las operaciones de tres organizaciones de homosexuales en Honduras. - Honduras: A police licence to kill? Amnesty International is calling for urgent action to protect the key witness in the prosecution of a police officer who is alleged to have murdered a transsexual sex worker, known as 'Ericka', in San Pedro Sula, Honduras in July... More than 200 gay and transsexual sex workers are estimated to have been killed in Honduras since 1991. Few of these cases have been officially registered, and fewer still investigated or the perpetrators brought to justice..." - Transgender women living in virtual prison.

Human Rights Violations against LGBT (Update II): This is an update on the action regarding the situation of LGBT rights in the city of San Pedro Sula and the constant harassment and intimidation of members of the non-governmental organization Comunidad Gay Sampedrana. Following the murder of Erick David Yáñez, known as Ericka, in July 2003 and the subsequent death threats against Elkyn Suarez Mejía, a transgender individual known as China, who was a witness to the murder, other members of the Comunidad Gay Sampedrana continue to find themselves harassed and intimidated, principally via threatening telephone calls.

"Zero Tolerance" for Gays in Honduras: Police Arrest Gay Activists (Alternate Link): "Gays and transgendered people have been targeted for harassment in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the country's industrial center and second largest city... Group members reported that San Pedro Sula Mayor Oscar Kilgore ordered a raid on the city's only gay bar, "Boys" on January 12th. Twelve people including Flores and several staff members from "Comunidad Gay," were arrested and held for 24 hours and then released. The bar never reopened. The raid was part of the new "zero tolerance for crime and delinquency" program announced in January by President Maduro and implemented by Mayor Kilgore. Kilgore has also ordered city police to detain "transvestites and effeminate looking people" if they cross the railroad tracks that divide the city's south side from its downtown area..." - Transvestites And Gay Men Threatened With Expulsion From City: Act Now To Protect Freedom Of Movement. - Gay Groups March in Two Cities.

LLEGÓ Urges U.S. Government to Address Human Rights Abuses in Honduras: "In May 7, 2002, a law signed by Honduran President Maduro was implemented. The law named “Social and Co-Existance Law” gives police officials the authority to detain individuals perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Police officers also have the authority to seek out social locations including bars, nightclubs, and parks where LGBT individuals have been found to frequent. The government has also announced the formation of a "reeducation" program for prostitutes, and several transgendered individuals have been transported involuntarily to be enrolled... LLEGÓ is the nation’s only nonprofit organization devoted to organize Latina/o LGBT communities on a local, regional, national and international level. LLEGÓ is home to various programs providing infrastructure development to Latino LGBT communities in the United States, Puerto Rico, Honduras, and Guatemala. LLEGÓ exists to address social, health, and political disparities based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and ethnicity affecting the Latino LGBT community." - Latina/o Unity Celebration will Mark LLEGÓ's 15th Year.

Honduras: Further Information on UA 258/03: "Police protection was reportedly withdrawn from Elkyn Suárez Mejía, a transgender individual also known as China, on 13 September. Amnesty International is therefore increasingly concerned for her safety and that of other members of the non-governmental organization Comunidad Gay Sampedrana (Gay Community of San Pedro Sula), in northern Honduras... Elkyn Suárez Mejía had been provided with 24-hour police protection after receiving death threats regarding information she had about the killing of Erick David Yáñez, a transgender female also known as Ericka, on 15 July. Elkyn Suárez Mejía gave her testimony to the authorities, leading to the identification and arrest of two police officers involved in the murder. However, one of the police agents escaped custody in mid-August and, to Amnesty International's knowledge, has not yet been recaptured. Members of the Comunidad Gay Sampedrana have received anonymous telephone death threats in relation to the case..."

Prevalence of HIV/STD and behavior in Honduran men who have sex with men - The Central American multicenter study of HIV/STD and behavior (XIV International AIDS Conference): 284 men, >17 years, mean age = 24.4 years - from the two largest cities of Honduras. "Forty-five percent self-identified as gay/homosexual, 28% as bisexual, 17% as heterosexual and 11% as transvestite. Mean age of first sexual intercourse was 13.6 yr., and 67% reported first intercourse with a man... The HIV prevalence was high, with low condom use rates, high numbers of sexual partners, low risk perception, and a high percentage of behavioral bisexuality." - Gay AIDS Group Denied Legal Registration in Honduras (1995). - In Honduras Treatment Access Improves for People Living with HIV/AIDS.

60% of All Central American AIDS Is In Honduras: "This is a follow-up report to a story what was carried on this Site about one year ago. The earlier  story can be found in the Table of Contents. The comparisons in the short space of a few months offer a grim scenario of  medical neglect, total government irresponsibility, and a mortal epidemic completely out of control... No one is quite sure exactly why Honduras, with just 17 percent Central America´s population, has over half of the 20,000 reported cases of AIDS in the region. Honduras, with 5.4 million people has more than 11,000 officially diagnosed cases. Costa Rica, with 3.4 million people has 1,400 cases, and Nicaragua with 4 million has just over 300, according to official figures... Also in San Pedro Sula I spoke to Guillermo a 30 year old ex-transvestite sex worker who is now the janitor at San Pedro Sula´s gay community organization known as "Comunidad Gay San Pedrana." ...He says his family in Tegucigalpa is wealthy but will have nothing to do with him... He is open about his HIV+ status with the young gays he sees at the center. "But some of them just don´t pay attention," he says. They don´t think it will happen to them." Jonathon Castro, AIDS educator in the gay/lesbian Association in Tegucigalpa, called "Collectiva Violeta" told me about his friend Rafael who died at the age of 20 on the sidewalk near the downtown area. "They asked him to leave the hospital because they said they couldn't treat his infections anyway. So he just went outside and found a place to lie down and died." Full blown AIDS in persons as young as 18-22 is quite common in Honduras, as apparently many very young adolescents are quite sexually active..."

Out About AIDS in Honduras (Home Page) "...With the women I developed deep loving  relationships that for the first time in my life were based on a power greater than sex. I experienced intimacy that was not sexual, which was  a foreign concept to me. Eventually the women accepted me without a husband and children and embraced me even though with my white skin and green eyes were almost ridiculous to them... When I left La Sabana in April 1997, I was totally exhausted and hungered for familiarity. I missed tough women who wore men’s clothes, walked with heavy feet, taking giant strides. I missed the American lesbians, gays, tranies, drag queens, and artists who had taught me to value open-mindedness, honesty about being a lesbian, and to be grateful for the past struggles that have helped me be free. I was so tired of being “la gringa.” I had never come out as a lesbian in Honduras because I thought it would be unsafe to do so. At first I thought that I had lacked the courage to do this, but I have begun to think that being gay in Central America is really so much more complicated than I ever wanted to admit. Maybe it was a courageous thing not to come out there. What I am sure of is that my experiences in Honduras were rich. They have changed my life, and I am a smarter and more patient lesbian because of them."

Why So High? A Knotty Story: Garifuna culture, discrimination against gay men, massive migration, the Cold War, and ignored prisoners all are theories that attempt to explain this country's serious epidemic... In 2005, Honduras in general had an adult prevalence of 1.5%, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. That makes it the hardest-hit country in Central America other than relatively tiny Belize (see p. 483). The spread is mainly through heterosexual sex, which is reflected by a nearly 1:1 ratio of male to female AIDS cases. Yet the virus has also spread widely through the community of gay men, who have a prevalence of 13%--even higher than that of female sex workers, at 9.7%.

Heterogender Homosexuality in Honduras - 2002 - by Stephen O. Murray and Manuel Fernández-Alemany: (Book Review at epinions.com) (Amazon) "provides an ethnography of the sexual culture of males who have sex with males in the lower-class part of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Its primary thesis is that the analytic distinction between gender (masculine/feminine) and sexuality (heterosexual/homosexual) is inoperative for Honduran men, both those identified and identifying as "homosexual" and their sexual partners who do not so identify. Having elicited more complex systems of gender-sexuality categories from both the homosexuals and their sexual partners, Fernández and coauthor Stephen Murray (yes, the epinions Stephen Murray) follow Gayle Rubin in arguing that gender is more of a continuum than a dichotomy... Heterogender Homosexuality in Honduras balances representations of the flamboyant and voluble "queens" with the perspectives of masculine male partners who generally hide their participation in sex with homosexuals and blend into the population of "regular guys" (hombres)... The first chapter reviews some of the contentious issues in the study of gendered homosexuality and explains how the Chilean graduate student did fieldwork in Honduras... The following three chapters lay out the ideologies of man-male penetration in Honduras (and other lower-class "traditional" Latin American settings, beginning with discussion of the norms (regarded as pregiven by nature) that men cannot be penetrated and homosexuals cannot penetrate... The fifth chapter lays out the typology of kinds of males who have sex with males that the effeminate homosexuals (locas) believe in and act upon. The following chapter investigates the views of their sexuality held by the young men who penetrate homosexuals... The conclusion challenges the equation of penetration with honor and being penetrated with shame. To the contrary, these and other authors have found the heterosexually identified males who have sexual relations with less masculine males do not brag about their conquest of biological males and try to keep others from learning about what they do, whereas the "queens" openly revel in their "conquests" of masculine partners. The "locas" (crazy feminine males) do not seek either conventional male honor or convention female honor..." (Related information from Barnes & Noble) (Amazon.com Reference)

Gay Churches Expand to Latin American Congregations: Homosexuals in Honduras respond to new denomination's message that homosexuality and Christianity are compatible: "Excluded from traditional churches, homosexual Christians in Latin America are forming their own congregations with help from the biggest homosexual denomination in the United States... According to Nelson Arambu, of the Violet Collective, it was the first formal worship held specifically for gays and lesbians in Honduras. "Given the dominant culture of Honduras, it's very difficult for homosexuals or lesbians to enter a church without being rejected," Arambu told ENI. "A majority of homosexuals here are people of faith, but the attitude of the churches toward us has been very negative. They see us as sexual aberrations, people who aren't capable of positive lives, much less of having access  to the glory of God. And since the churches have a lot of influence with the government and society, they contribute to an environment where we're rejected by our families, forcing many homosexuals into the streets where they have to sell their bodies to survive, or end up committing suicide."

Resources: - Gay.com en Español. - (Global Gayz): - News/Reports. - IGLA Report. (Archive Link) - The Eastgarden. - LGBT rights in Honduras. - GLBTQ: Honduras.

Blabbeando Blog: Latin American GLBTQ News / Commentaries: 2005 to Present.

Search GLBTQ: The Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer Culture. - Search BGLAD. - Search the QRD. - Search all GLBT Resource Directories. - Search Google.com. - Search Google Scholar. - Search Google's G:LBT Directory. - MSN Search. - Search findarticles.com: many full text articles and papers.

Academic Searches: Search IngentaConnect: The most comprehensive collection of academic and professional publications. - Search Project Muse: Scholarly Journals Online. - Search JSTOR: The Scholarly Journal Archive. - Search The National Library of Medicine.
 

BELIZE: -  Welcome to a Voice of MSM Communities in Belize: Who is the man? Or who is the woman? - May best articulate the heterosexual individual perception of men who have sex with men (MSM) or MSM individuals in Belize. The life of an MSM in Belize is more than just about sex or sexuality. It defined by terms like “girl this and girl that”. It is defined by interests in techno music vs dancehall. It is defined by who works, who pays the bills or divisions in the house chores, mundane stuff. Such mundane activities then reflect itself in definitions of class, ethnicity, educational levels, professional standing, and sexuality. The point is that there is as much diversity in the MSM and gay culture in Belize as there are stereotypes to overcome... The culture of “dry sex” or sex without lubricants and sex with oil base products from my 70 plus interviews in the population demonstrates that HIV education with an MSM focus has barely begun to be conceptualized in Belize. The unique health information that the men who have sex with men need to prevent transmission of HIV is still evolving in the community.

Lesbian Love: "The attitude against homosexuals is well known and the big event that marked the arrival of the "Leeward" ship to Belize is still recent enough. By contrast Belizeans seem to be more tolerant of lesbians. A man who will loudly condemn a homo, suddenly becomes soft spoken and understanding on the subject of lesbians." - Pride in Belize.

Caribbean AIDS Outreach Hampered by Homophobia: Paradise for gay tourists, for locals, a closet: ... Double-Edged British Legacy... In Belize, another CARICOM country linked more to the region by language, culture and history, than geography, there is apparently less overt violence against gays, but the gay community still remains completely closeted. I recently spoke with a former Belizan Minister who said she personally is an advocate of gay rights, but hesitated when I asked if she would be willing to say this publicly in her country. There is a non-governmental organization in Belize that provides support services to gay and lesbian people, but doesn't advertise them. Gays and lesbians are "everywhere" in Belize, and even occupy important governmental positions, but they remain psychologically oppressed within their culture. - What’s in a name: The Down Low Restaurant - coincidence or deliberate?

Why So High? A Knotty Story: Garifuna culture, discrimination against gay men, massive migration, the Cold War, and ignored prisoners all are theories that attempt to explain this country's serious epidemic... In 2005, Honduras in general had an adult prevalence of 1.5%, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. That makes it the hardest-hit country in Central America other than relatively tiny Belize (see p. 483). - A situational analysis of HIV/AIDS in Belize - 1999.

Understanding the homosexual factor - Part IV: Homosexuality, pedophilia, and bestiality — the deadly connection: (Alternate Link) In discussing the relationship between homosexuality, pedophilia, and bestiality, a number of pointers may have to be mapped out. In addition, certain lead ideas may have to be established to increase our horizon in understanding the broad implications of a lifestyle that has taken on so much social clout that it has been able to, on many issues, suspend, reconstruct, or reorganize reality to the detriment of all. Homosexuality is a lifestyle, not a way of living. It is recreational, it is incidental, and an end, not a means to an end. .. And given the response of the National AIDS Commission to an article in the Amandala on the gay lifestyle, one wonders: Is the National AIDS Commission a gay advocacy group in disguise? Is their mission clearly understood? Or was it a case of picking the wrong priority? This is more troubling when members of a gay advocacy group wrote an email to confirm that the response published was in line with their requirement from the commission. Did the RED Cross of Belize have the same priority for jumping into the fray to protect homosexuals from being identified as having anything to do with the origin of AIDS? The press release by the Ambassador to AIDS thus raises an issue of concern to all Belizeans, and should stand as a point of caution to all parents and organizations involved in the protection of Belizean children from the ravages of the homosexual lobby. - Related Letter: Blue red hue: I’m not that foolish. It is clear that season open. Nobody will read anything you write if you don’t mix in the red and blue. Except, of course, if it is something essential… like Mr. Okeke’s pieces on homosexuality. Congratulations Mr. Okeke, on an excellent series of articles on demonic behavior. It is all about saving the children. Give them the truth, to counter American and British media fabrications. Love the man, but condemn that horrid deed! 

The homosexual high school administrator: The school once had a counselor who had built a rapport with some of the students. Students began opening up to the counselor about their sexual ordeals, and what the counselor described as their own “conflicts” with their sexuality. Some of the boys in the school (some of them minors) were wondering whether they were homosexual, heterosexual or bisexual. Some of them complained of being bullied into sexual activity by older boys at school. Some students reported having sexual relations with a leading school administrator. Some of them were minors, which made this doubly illegal. In some instances, students confided in the administrator, and it was during those vulnerable moments that they were initiated into the world of homosexuality. One relative told the counselor that the administrator sodomized him. - Related Letter: Pedophilia is a crime! - Related Letter: Of pedophiles and hypocrites: There is a line which all parents draw, however. They do not want for their children to be sucked into homosexuality before they have a chance to decide how it is that they want to live. No parent really wants his little boy to become a girl, or his little girl to become a boy, if you understand what we mean.   Pedophilia is much worse than homosexuality. But because the homosexuals have been getting away with so much, those at that school feel they have to cover up for pedophilia. It ain’t gonna work. As soon as the parents realize that it’s their school where this is taking place, there’s gonna be hell to pay. Until then, pedophiles and hypocrites, let the silence reign.  Until such time, all we will say is - bun down Babylon. Straight.

Medical and social consequences of what homosexuals do: The vehemence with which sexual practices are upheld or condemned by society, civil authority and the religious rites, seems to depend on how many people within the upper or lower wrungs of society have adopted them. That seems to suggest that pedophilia, homosexuality, bestiality and every other form of unnatural sexual practice and deviance will eventually find their way up the ladder of public acceptance once the cream of the society are willing to show themselves in it publicly. Although those who practice unnatural and uncommon sexual activities may enjoy them, it is important that we mark out some of the cost of their pleasure... Homosexuals rode into the dawn of sexual freedom and returned with a plague that gives every indication of destroying most of them, those who care for them, and those around them. They returned with the plague of AIDS and its accompanying lethal chain of dangerous epidemics. Those who treat AIDS patients are at great risk, not only from HIV infection, but also from new strains of other diseases. Those who are housed with AIDS patients are also at risk.

Gay cruise ship has come and gone (1998): The 915 gay men and women and the M.S Leeward cruise ship on which they traveled came and left, but not without facing a gathering at the fort area showing displeasure at their lifestyle... Of the 915 homosexual visitors, only 700 actually came ashore, the remainder stayed on board.

Travelers's Tip: It is also important to note that homosexuality is still considered a crime in Belize. There have not been any cases of arrests of visitors, but locals have been imprisoned. Therefore, homosexual travelers will want to maintain discretion.

IGLA Report. (Archive Link) -The Eastgarden. - Sodomy Laws.

Blabbeando Blog: Latin American GLBTQ News / Commentaries: 2005 to Present.
 

COSTA RICA: - Costa Rica Contemplating Gay Adoption Ban: Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly is poised to outlaw adoption either by same-sex couples or by mixed-gender couples in which one partner may be gay or bisexual. - Costa Rica considers law to prevent gay adoption. - Avanza plan para prohibir a homosexuales adoptar niños: Jerarca del PANI ve difícil identificar la orientación sexual de los aspirantes Movimiento de gais dice que reforma viola derechos humanos en el país (Translation) (Alternate Link). - Costa Rica: congresistas quieren prohibir la adopción gay mediante una reforma al Código de Familia (Translation): En una clara actitud homofoba, una comisión del Congreso de Costa Rica aprobó este miércoles una reforma del Código de Familia para prohibir de manera expresa la adopción de niños por parte de personas homosexuales. La Comisión de Juventud, Niñez y Adolescencia aprobó por unanimidad la adición al Código de Familia de un artículo que prohíbe «aquellas adopciones hechas a título individual o por una pareja, en las que uno o ambos adoptantes hayan manifestado una orientación sexual hacia personas del mismo género».

Costa Rican Supreme Court says No to Homosexual "Marriage". - Congress to Study Bill on Homosexual Civil Unions. - Civil unions in Costa Rica. - Homosexuales de Costa Rica lanzan primer programa de radio gay en Centroamérica (Translation). - Presentan en Costa Rica proyecto para legalizar uniones homosexuales (Translation): Diputados del Movimiento Libertario (ML) y Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), ambos de derecha, y el izquierdista Frente Amplio anunciaron este martes su apoyo a un proyecto de ley que busca legalizar la unión homosexual en Costa Rica. - No descartan ciertos derechos para gays en Costa Rica (Translation): La representante novoprogresista Liza Fernández anticipó que no hay los votos para reconocer los matrimonios entre personas del mismo sexo, pero no descartó que se pueda legislar para que los homosexuales y lesbianas adquieran ciertos derechos de pareja. “Cuando uno hace el análisis y lo dialoga con los compañeros en los distintos cuerpos legislativos, yo no creo que haya ambiente ni hay los votos para trabajar una cosa como esa (los matrimonios gays)”, sostuvo Fernández en entrevista radial (WKAQ). No descartó, sin embargo, que se pueda legislar para garantizar que los homosexuales y lesbianas puedan heredar los bienes de su pareja. - Unión Civil gay en Costa Rica, cuando desaparezca la Iglesia (Translation).

Estudio alerta sobre intentos de suicidio por discriminación gay según encuesta exploratoria en población costarricense (Translation): Una investigación en población homosexual costarricense lanzó una campanada de alerta sobre intentos suicidas por causa de la discriminación y rechazo por su orientación sexual. Investigación en 200 homosexuales halló hasta un 27% de intentos suicidas. Rechazo familiar y social, problemas de pareja y soledad son principales causas.

Suicidio en la población homosexual costarricense (Translation): 55 GBT Males. 40% had been suicidal. 22% had attempted suicide. 45 LB Females. 18% had been suicidal. 11% had attemptd suicide.

Entrevista Telenoticias:  ¿Natural o antinatural la unión entre parejas homosexuales? (Translation): Un recurso presentado por el Lic. Yashin Castrillo ante la Sala Constitucional, pretende que se declare inconstitucional las normas legales que prohíben el matrimonio entre homosexuales. Esto ha generado mucha polémica entre los diferentes sectores de la sociedad y fue el tema central de una entrevista.

Homosexuales contra TLC y piden mejor salud y educación sexual (Translation): La comunidad homosexual de Costa Rica se manifestó hoy en contra del Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) con Estados Unidos y pidieron una mejor cobertura de salud y educación sexual, en una declaración elaborada durante su I Conferencia Nacional. El presidente del Movimiento Diversidad, Abelardo Araya, declaró hoy a ACAN-EFE que durante la conferencia de tres días, que concluyó el domingo pasado, se elaboró una declaración de conclusiones y otra contra el TLC. - Realizarán congreso gay en Costa Rica (Translation).

Attitudes & The Law: Homosexual acts are not condem by the law, but the Police occacionally harass gay men and transvestites. Closeted homosexuality is tolerant. in the las gallop poll 70% of the people interview believ that homosexual should have the same rights are heterosexuals. The "Comunidad Eucuménica de Fe" is a group based on the "Theology of Liberation" a lesbian group called "Las Entendidas," a self- help organization, was founded in 1987. In 1993 the "Colectivo Gay Universitario" the AlCS the GGLFC and the "Grupo Diferentes" were members of the ILGA, Futhermore, informal gay and lesbian groups exist; openly gay men and lesbians are active with AIDS organizations. - Survey About LGBTs in Nicaragua and Costa Rica.: The lesbian/gay/bisexual population of Costa Rica lives in relative tranquility and freedom, as long as their sexual preference is not obvious. There are gay/lesbian or gay/lesbian-friendly bars, restaurants and hotels, as well as two printed media and an Internet café. [On the other hand,] the transexual/transvestite population is not organized and is usually the object of more violent aggressions than the gay/lesbian population.

Gay Teacher Fired (1998). - The Supreme Court of Costa Rica has added two important articles of FREEDOM for ALL GLBT peoples to their Constitution. - Gay Times Travel articles: Richard Stern reports from Costa Rica - the Central American country where the gay scene and the gay struggle walk hand in hand. - Learn Spanish in Costa Rica - at ILISA. Your Gay & Lesbian friendly Spanish language school in Costa Rica! 

Sexual Diversity Center Will Open Today (2002): "Costa Rica's first center for gay, lesbian and bisexual people is scheduled to open today with a ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Central American Research and Promotion Center of Human Rights in San José." - Consumo de drogas y alcohol en la comunidad GLTB: Estudio de CIPAC revela que literalmente nos estamos matando. - Homofobia social y seguridad ciudadana. & Los bares gay y el SIDA. & Cacherismo In A San Jose Brothel: Aspects Of Male Sex Work In Costa Rica. & Evaluacion Del Impacto De Los Talleres De Salud, Sexualidad Y Sida En Los Estudiantes De La Universidad Nacional. (Download Page) (Alternate Link). - Cultura homosexual: el mito del otro (Translation).

The Gay & Lesbian Scene: "Because Costa Rica is such a conservative Catholic country, the gay and lesbian communities here are rather discreet. Homosexuality is not generally under attack, but many gay and lesbian organizations guard their privacy, and the club scene is changeable and not well publicized. For a general overview of the current  situation, news of any special events or meetings, and up-to-date information, gay and lesbian travelers  should check in at..." - The places listed in here are known for their friendly attention, the quality of their service and support of activities for gay, lesbian and bisexual people and for their human rights and dignity. We recommend them!

Costa Rica,  for the first time, . . .or the next! "San José has everything that a North American city has for gay people. Gay bars, discos, gyms, boutiques, organizations, hotels, and restaurants. It also has museums of history, science, and art that are like none other on the planet... The gay beach at Manuel Antonio is great because of abundant shade trees and its seclusion from the main public beaches, - but you have to cross a couple of rocky points to get to the gay beach... I receive frequent email asking about the Ticos' attitudes towards gay people.  Ticos are very courteous, fair-minded, respectful people.  They are extremely proud of their democracy.  Over the years they have heard numerous stories carried by the local papers and television about various important people involved in various gay related scandals.  In Oct. of 1997, La Nacion, the leading paper published a suppliment series about human sexuality.  One issue contained a series of articles about homosexuality.  It was very objective, positive, and supportive.  There was even an article advising gay & lesbian people how to "come out" to their parents.  Whenever a gay-related controversy does come up, government officials are quick to remind those narrow-minded people that this is a democracy and that the Constitution guarantees equal treatment and respect for all people!..."

La marginación de los homosexuales en el ámbito familiar, laboral y educativo en costa rica (Translation) (Alternate Link): 1. Introducción - 2. Marco Teórico - 3. La discriminación del homosexual en el ámbito familiar - 4. La marginalidad laboral que se ejerce sobre los homosexuales en Costa Rica - 5. El Sistema Educativo propulsor de prejuicios y estereotipos - 6. Conclusiones - 7. Bibliografía. - Elementos para una práctica renovada de la educación para la sexualidad: homosexualidad y heterosexualidad, homofilia y heterofilia, eros (Translation).

Pétalos y Espinas: Hombres Gay, Relaciones de Pareja y Violencia - 2003 - de Rodrigo Vargas Ruiz (Translation): Este libro es el resultado de una investigación de carácter cualitativo relacionada con el tema de la homosexualidad, la conformación de la relación de pareja entre hombres y el papel que tiene la violencia dentro de ella. La población estuvo conformada por los hombres que tenían una relación de pareja al momento de realizar el estudio y que pertenecían a la Gran Área Metropolitana de San José, Costa Rica. - Capítulo I: Introducción (Translation).

JUSTICIA PARA TODAS: Discriminación contra las lesbianas en Costa Rica (PDF Download). - JUSTICE FOR ALL WOMEN Discrimination against lesbians in Costa Rica (PDF Download). - Lesbian Lives in Costa Rica (PDF Download). - Contexto: Las Vidas De Las Lebianas En Costa Rica (PDF Download). - Being a Lesbian in Costa Rica at the End of the Last Century (PDF Download).  - El Ambiente gay en Costa Rica (PDF Download): Esta es la segunda parte de un artículo donde se recogen testimonios de diferentes personas que relatan sus vivencias sobre el ambiente gay en Costa Rica desde finales de los sesenta, en los setenta y en los ochenta.

Gays y Lesbianas los más discriminados en Costa Rica (Translation): Tres de cada diez personas afirman que el grupo social que menos les gusta es el de los homosexuales; en segundo lugar están los militares y en tercer lugar, los extranjeros. Más de la mitad de los costarricenses no está de acuerdo con que le grupo que menos les gusta ejerza la libertad de expresión, sea electo en cargos públicos o pueda enseñar en las escuelas. Estos datos forman parte de la “Auditoría sobre la calidad de la democracia” publicado este año... De acuerdo con una encuesta realizada en 1996 en el área metropolitana como parte de esta investigación, los grupos más discriminados en orden descendente son los homosexuales (33%), los ateos (21%), los racistas (17%), los comunistas /15%) y los predicadores religiosos (8%). Se puede concluir que por encima de xenofobia, de la discriminación religiosa y política, Costa Rica es homofóbica...A pesar de esta altas cifras de discriminación a los homosexuales, la “Auditoría Ciudadana sobre la Calidad de la Democracia” no realizó estudios complementarios sobre este tema, pero sí investigó más sobre otros tipos de discriminación , a pesar de las bajas cifras que comparativamente arrojaron otros grupos sociales.

HIV/AIDS in Costa Rica and USAID Involvement (PDF Download). - Life Is Hard: Machismo, Danger, and the Intimacy of Power in Nicaragua - 1994 - by Roger N. Lancaster. - Similar magnitude of the AIDS epidemics among homosexual men in Costa Rica and in the United States. - HIV/AIDS in Costa Rica (PDF Download): HIV/AIDS in Costa Rica is spread most frequently through sexual contact between men. Costa Rica is one of the few countries in Central America where HIV transmission via men who have sex with men (MSM) eclipses transmission via sex between men and women.

Costa Rica: Homoerotic, Homosexual, and Bisexual Behaviors. - Significant Unconventional Sexual Behaviors.

Child Prostitution and Sex Tourism (PDF Download): "He told us that most of the clients of drug addicted chi dren are local men or sailors.He believed that local demand for young boys arises because homosexuality is heavily stigmatised in Costa Rica,so 'respectable' Costa Rican men prefer to pick up boys from the street and take them somewhere discreet to use them rather than to enter into open homosexual relationships with their social and/or age equals.

Homosexualidad en los Indígenas Costarricenses (Translation). - Lair Davis (Our Man in Costa Rica): Remember Lair Davis? He was the founding editor of several queer newspapers including the San Diego Gayzette (1982), Gay Times (1988) and Gay/Lesbian Nation (1990). Lair moved on to other community challenges in San Diego before moving to Santa Cruz. In June 2004, the award-winning “Lair About Town” columnist retired to the tropics of Costa Rica.

Resources: - GayCostaRica.com: The Official Wesite for the Gay & Lesbian Community in Costa Rica.- Cipac DH - Costa Rica: Centro de Investigación y Promoción para América Central de Derechos Humanos. - Agua Buena Asociación de Derechos Humanos: Links. - Costa Rica Gay, Lesbian Bars, Entertainment. - Lesbian and Gay Costa Rica. - Revista Gente10. 

Gay Costa Rica (Global Gayz) - ILGA Report. (Archive Link)  - The Eastgarden. - LGBT rights in Costa Rica. - Gayscape Links. - GLBTQ: Costa Rica.

Blabbeando Blog: Latin American GLBTQ News / Commentaries: 2005 to Present.

Search GLBTQ: The Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer Culture. - Search BGLAD. - Search the QRD. - Search all GLBT Resource Directories. - Search Google.com. - Search Google Scholar. - Search Google's G:LBT Directory. - MSN Search. - Search findarticles.com: many full text articles and papers. - Typology, behavior, bisexuality and HIV infection of homosexual men of Costa Rica, 1985-1988.

Academic Searches: Search IngentaConnect: The most comprehensive collection of academic and professional publications. - Search Project Muse: Scholarly Journals Online. - Search JSTOR: The Scholarly Journal Archive. - Search The National Library of Medicine.
 

NICARAGUA: -  Festival of Sexual Diversity and Human Rights in Nicaragua from June 22--28, 2006 (Alternate Link): The main purpose of this project is to portrait from various artistic expressions a new, more natural image and without prejudices of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and transsexuals. This activity will take place for the third time, people with different sexual leanings will participate and will presents a broad range of artistic expressions, we think this should be supported and encouraged. This year we will have also the second March for Sexual Diversity where the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual community can express themselves. For this third festival we are inviting groups and organizations from those four communities, asking them for their participation.\

Amnesty International Organizes Worldwide Gay Protest Against Nicaragua. - Amnistía Internacional organiza protesta homosexual mundial contra Nicaragua (Translation). - Global protests against Nicaragua's gay ban. - Gay rights activists stage rally in front of Nicaraguan embassy (Alternate Link):  Gay rights activists staged a demonstration outside the Nicaraguan embassy in Taipei yesterday as part of an international campaign against the country's sodomy law. "Love is not a crime!" activists from six non-governmental organizations shouted in Mandarin, English and Spanish outside the embassy. The international campaign was initiated by Amnesty International Mexico and also took place in 10 other countries. - Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people at risk.

Cómo se expresa la homofobia en Nicaragua (Translation): Nicaragua no dicta mucho de toda esta estructura educacional y patriarcal estamos inmersos en esa estructura donde se promueven creencias y actitudes de rechazo hacia determinado grupo u comunidad. En donde desde niño te inculcan el rechazo hacia las personas “obvias” gay afeminados, o hacia la comunidad GLTTB. A veces se convierte en una casería de bruja y se les desprecia y ridiculiza en público, se despide de sus trabajos a aquellos tildados como cochón término nicaragüense para referirse al gay. Pero qué sucede cuando el que recibe toda esa educación es gay. Puede que sucedan dos cosas: una, que se convierta en un gay homofóbico, machista y controlador y otra que reprima el impulso y lo canalice a través del ataque a los homosexuales.

¿Un cochón es un gay? Homofobia y patriarcado en Nicaragua (Translation): ¿Pero cómo funciona la homofobia en Nicaragua? ¿Es igual y tiene la misma fuerza como la que se evidencio en Belleza Americana? Para poder contestar estas preguntas, es necesario primero realizar una pequeña arqueología, desde la propia cultura, de algunos aspectos de la sexualidad nicaragüense y en particular la(s) (homo)sexualidad(es) masculina(s). En su libro «Life is Hard» (La Vida es Dura), el antropólogo norteamericano Roger Lancaster propone que las concepciones y prácticas homosexuales angloamericanas y el lenguaje que se usa para describirlas, no son adecuadas para describir la especificidad cultural de la experiencia «homosexual nicaragüense». Argumenta que desde el punto de vista de la cultura, el «cochón» nicaragüense y el «gay» angloamericano, (ambos arquetipos culturales de realidades sexuales que transgreden la heterosexualidad obligatoria), aunque tengan similitudes, también tienen importantes diferencias... Lancaster comenta: «Los cochones son hombres femeninos, o más correctamente feminizados: no son hombres enteros». «FAGGOTS» Y «QUEERS». En el modelo angloamericano, sin embargo, ambos participantes en el acto sexual (y el acto mismo) son condenados y estigmatizados como «homosexuales» (en inglés etiquetados como «faggots» o «queers»)... Volviendo a la pregunta sobre la existencia de la homofobia y sus manifestaciones y fuerza en Nicaragua, habrá que proponer que es sustancialmente diferente a la que se presenta en la película Belleza Americana...  - La Desconstrucción De La Masculinidad (Alternate Link) (Translation).

Gay refugee claimant fights deportation order: A gay teen runaway from Nicaragua who faces deportation next week is "scared" to return home, he says, after being denied asylum because the Immigration and Refugee Board didn't believe he was a homosexual. Alvaro Antonio Orozco, now 21, based his refugee claim on fears of homophobia in a country where sodomy is illegal. He also cited fears of domestic abuse at the hands of his father. - Gay Nicaraguan man goes into hiding after refugee bid denied. - Toronto man who fears anti-gay persecution faces deportation to Nicaragua.

The Gay Situation in Nicaragua: I am only 2 hours away from Managua, so every sane gay above the age of 18 immediately disappears to the capital. The situation in Estelí at least is that there's the typical gay vacuum of people between 18 and 40, and then they come back to the nice places to live to settle down. Those gays I have found between the ages of 18 and 40 that are here seem to be stuck in a void of being permanently 14 in terms of maturity and adhere agressively to activo/passivo roles that emulate straight life more closely. In short I don't expect to find Mr. Right here.

Re-Dressing a Gender Revolution: Drag and the Politics of Identity in Nicaragua: he practitioners of these new politics, advocating for the rights of women and sexual minorities, have needed to outfit themselves with political tools that are both part of the legacy of Sandinismo and comprised of new, global coalitions and tactics. Some of these activists are especially flamboyant in their non-conformity to politics-as-usual: the drag queens of Managua... The drag "pageant" is in fact, ubiquitous in the political events found in the country's capital, Managua, where approximately half of the nation's population resides. It is not only gay men's organizations that "do" drag, either. A number of feminist organizations, AIDS groups, lesbian rights organizations, as well as gay male groups, all feature drag as a part of their strategy to disrupt gender and sexuality norms. In this, drag in Nicaragua is quite different than its North American counterpart, which is most often associated with a gay, male sub-culture.

At Home in a World of Strangers. Towards a Comparison of Gay Urban Cultures: Managua, Nicaragua. - Fight Against AIDS Started Nicaragua's 'Gay Revolution'. - Nicaraguan President Signs Sodomy Law. - Sex and the Sandinistas. - Torture Of A Transsexual. - Nicaraguan law defined marriage as the union of two people of the male and female sex and explicitly prohibits the marriage of same sex couples N/A. - Legalizing the repression of homosexuality (Amnesty International). - Kenneth W. Payne Student Prize Competition 2002 Award-Winning Paper: Queers and Televisionaries: the strategics of sexuality in neoliberal Nicaragua. (Related article: Alyssa Cymene Howe Wins the Kenneth W. Payne Student Prize for 2002: PDF Download)

Queers and Televisionaries: the strategics of sexuality in neoliberal Nicaragua. - Carta pública a homosexuales y lesbianas de Nicaragua (Translation). - Ivo Marcelo Rosales Soto: "Ivo Marcelo Rosales Soto is a psychologist and actor in Nicaragua. He plays Angel in “Sexto Sentido,” who was the first gay character to be featured in a national television series in Nicaragua..." - Survey About LGBTs in Nicaragua and Costa Rica: [... The general situation of LGTB citizens in Nicaragua] can be summarized as very difficult, as a daily struggle to convince the family, friends and work or study colleagues that we are equal in respect to rights[...] Homophobic people tend to keep a distance at this population and can have a hostile attitude towards it[...] There are only a few LGTB or LGTB-friendly places in Nicaragua. [...On the other hand,] there is a clear difference in regards to the situation of a LGTB person according to her/his specific sexual preference. While lesbian/gay/bisexual people can be more or less accepted in their environment, the situation of transexual or transvestite persons is more difficult, as they are not usually accepted and are much more discriminated. [...]. 

The sins of Nicaragua's fathers: "Now there's a small, national movement of men against violence  [against women]. Oswaldo Montoya, one of the movement's members, admits that it is difficult for men to take part. "They find that people accuse them of homosexuality," he said, "because this is a group of men that rejects violence. But I think things are really beginning to change in Nicaragua. These days, it's no longer a compliment to be called a macho." - Beyond Revolution: Nicaragua And El Salvador In A New Era: Nicaragua’s social movements have been forced to grapple with the changing political and economic climate. Florence Babb discusses the growing visibility and activism of Nicaragua’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population. Activists in this evolving movement are reaching out across borders to gain international support for recognition of their right to social inclusion.  -  El artículo 204 y la legalización de la represión de la homosexualidad (Translation). - IGLHRC Book Nicaragua (PDF Download).

In Nicaragua: homosexuality without a gay world.(Journal of Homosexuality: 24-3/4:171-81, 1993. PubMed Abstract) - Ignorance, fear and need: HIV/AIDS in Nicaragua (PDF Download). - STI/HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in Nicaragua: Needs Assessment (PDF Download). - Plenty of Nothing: No drugs, no care, no support for Nicaragua's PWA's. - Exchange between 'Stepping Stones' practitioners from Africa and Nicaraguan organisations working on Domestic Violence, Gender and Diversity. - Abuso sexual, incesto: diez años tocando heridas (Translation).

Submitting or Resisting: Exploring the Popular Central American Belief that Homosexuality Can Be Induced: "There is a popularly held notion in the rural areas of some Central American nations that a man can be ruined sexually. He can be made a homosexual by submitting to anal intercourse. This popular belief is a result of many sociocultural factors including geography, politics, economics and religion. Here an overview of the notion in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua is presented. These three Central American nations share common characteristics that make it possible to generalize in some ways about them. Homosexuals are explored in urban and countryside regions of these contemporary Latin American communities. Particular emphasis is placed on analysis of popular beliefs about homosexuality and homosexuals and the function of such beliefs..."

Excerpt from Roger Lancaster's "Subject Honour and Object Shame: the construction of male homosexuality and stigma in Nicaragua" (Ethnology 27-2, 111-25. 1988, Word 97 Download): ...social definition of the person and his sexual stigma derive from culturally-shared meanings of not just anal passivity and penile activity in particular but passivity and activity in general.  “To give” (dar) is to be masculine, “to receive” (recibir, aceptar, tomar) is to be feminine... Cochones [passive homosexuals] are, therefore, feminine men, specifically, feminised men, not fully male men.  They are men who are used by other men.  Their stigma flows from this concept of use.  Used by other men, the cochón is not a complete man.  His passive acquiescence to the active drive of other men’s sexual desires both defines and stigmatises his status.&