The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America: A Reader on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights
The city of Buenos Aires has guaranteed all couples, regardless of gender, the right to register civil unions. Mexico City has approved the Cohabitation Law, which grants same-sex couples marital rights identical to those of common-law relationships between men and women. Yet, a gay man was murdered every two days in Latin America in 2005, and Brazil recently led the world in homophobic murders. These facts illustrate the wide disparity in the treatment and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations across the region.

The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America presents the first English-language reader on LGBT politics in Latin America. Representing a range of contemporary works by scholars, activists, analysts, and politicians, the chapters address LGBT issues in nations from Cuba to Argentina. In their many findings, two main themes emerge: the struggle for LGBT rights has made significant inroads in the first decade of the twenty-first century (though not in every domain or every region); and the advances made were slow in coming compared to other social movements.

The articles uncover the many obstacles that LGBT activists face in establishing new laws and breaking down societal barriers. They identify perhaps the greatest roadblock in Latin American culture as an omnipresent system of “heteronormativity,” wherein heterosexuality, patriarchalism, gender hierarchies, and economic structures are deeply rooted in nearly every level of society. Along these lines, the texts explore specific impediments including family dependence, lack of public spaces, job opportunities, religious dictums, personal security, the complicated relationship between leftist political parties and LGBT movements in the region, and the ever-present “closets,” which keep LGBT issues out of the public eye.

The volume also looks to the future of LGBT activism in Latin America in areas such as globalization, changing demographics, the role of NGOs, and the rise of economic levels and education across societies, which may aid in a greater awareness of LGBT politics and issues. As the editors posit, to be democratic in the truest sense of the word, nations must recognize and address all segments of their populations.
1102349952
The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America: A Reader on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights
The city of Buenos Aires has guaranteed all couples, regardless of gender, the right to register civil unions. Mexico City has approved the Cohabitation Law, which grants same-sex couples marital rights identical to those of common-law relationships between men and women. Yet, a gay man was murdered every two days in Latin America in 2005, and Brazil recently led the world in homophobic murders. These facts illustrate the wide disparity in the treatment and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations across the region.

The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America presents the first English-language reader on LGBT politics in Latin America. Representing a range of contemporary works by scholars, activists, analysts, and politicians, the chapters address LGBT issues in nations from Cuba to Argentina. In their many findings, two main themes emerge: the struggle for LGBT rights has made significant inroads in the first decade of the twenty-first century (though not in every domain or every region); and the advances made were slow in coming compared to other social movements.

The articles uncover the many obstacles that LGBT activists face in establishing new laws and breaking down societal barriers. They identify perhaps the greatest roadblock in Latin American culture as an omnipresent system of “heteronormativity,” wherein heterosexuality, patriarchalism, gender hierarchies, and economic structures are deeply rooted in nearly every level of society. Along these lines, the texts explore specific impediments including family dependence, lack of public spaces, job opportunities, religious dictums, personal security, the complicated relationship between leftist political parties and LGBT movements in the region, and the ever-present “closets,” which keep LGBT issues out of the public eye.

The volume also looks to the future of LGBT activism in Latin America in areas such as globalization, changing demographics, the role of NGOs, and the rise of economic levels and education across societies, which may aid in a greater awareness of LGBT politics and issues. As the editors posit, to be democratic in the truest sense of the word, nations must recognize and address all segments of their populations.
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The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America: A Reader on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights

The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America: A Reader on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights

The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America: A Reader on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights

The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America: A Reader on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights

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Overview

The city of Buenos Aires has guaranteed all couples, regardless of gender, the right to register civil unions. Mexico City has approved the Cohabitation Law, which grants same-sex couples marital rights identical to those of common-law relationships between men and women. Yet, a gay man was murdered every two days in Latin America in 2005, and Brazil recently led the world in homophobic murders. These facts illustrate the wide disparity in the treatment and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations across the region.

The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America presents the first English-language reader on LGBT politics in Latin America. Representing a range of contemporary works by scholars, activists, analysts, and politicians, the chapters address LGBT issues in nations from Cuba to Argentina. In their many findings, two main themes emerge: the struggle for LGBT rights has made significant inroads in the first decade of the twenty-first century (though not in every domain or every region); and the advances made were slow in coming compared to other social movements.

The articles uncover the many obstacles that LGBT activists face in establishing new laws and breaking down societal barriers. They identify perhaps the greatest roadblock in Latin American culture as an omnipresent system of “heteronormativity,” wherein heterosexuality, patriarchalism, gender hierarchies, and economic structures are deeply rooted in nearly every level of society. Along these lines, the texts explore specific impediments including family dependence, lack of public spaces, job opportunities, religious dictums, personal security, the complicated relationship between leftist political parties and LGBT movements in the region, and the ever-present “closets,” which keep LGBT issues out of the public eye.

The volume also looks to the future of LGBT activism in Latin America in areas such as globalization, changing demographics, the role of NGOs, and the rise of economic levels and education across societies, which may aid in a greater awareness of LGBT politics and issues. As the editors posit, to be democratic in the truest sense of the word, nations must recognize and address all segments of their populations.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780822960621
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
Publication date: 05/24/2010
Series: Pitt Latin American Series
Edition description: 1
Pages: 480
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Javier Corrales is associate professor of political science at Amherst College. He is the author of Presidents without Parties: The Politics of Economic Reform in Argentina and Venezuela in the 1990s.

Table of Contents

Foreword Lisa Baldez ix

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction: The Comparative Politics of Sexuality in Latin America Javier Corrales Mario Pecheny 1

Part 1 Nation-Building and Heteronormativity

Mate Same-Sex Sexuality and the Argentine State, 1880-1930 Pablo Ben, 2009 33

Cuban CondemNation of Queer Bodies Emilio Bejel, 2000 44

Mexico Stephen O. Murray, 2004 60

Part 2 Sexuality-Based Political Struggles

More Love and More Desire: The Building of a Brazilian Movement James N. Green, 1998 69

"Con Discriminación y Represión No Hay Democracia": The Lesbian and Gay Movement in Argentina Stephen Brown, 2002 86

Sociability, Secrets, and Identities: Key Issues in Sexual Politics in Latin America Mario Pecheny 102

Sexual Politics and Sexual Rights in Brazil: A Case Study Adriana R. B. Vianna Sérgio Carrara, 2007 122

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Linda Rapp, 2004 135

Identity, Revolution, and Democracy: Lesbian Movements in Central America Millie Thayer, 1997 144

Part 3 LGBT Movements' Relations with Political Parties and Legislators

Global Communities and Hybrid Cultures: Early Gay and Lesbian Electoral Activism in Brazil and Mexico Rafael de la Dehesa, 2007 175

Social Movements and Political Parties: Gays, Lesbians, and Travestis and the Struggle for Inclusion in Brazil Juan P. Marsiaj, 2006 197

The Civil Union Law in Buenos Aires: Notes on the Arguments by the Opposition Renata Hiller Christina Martínez 212

Gay Rights in Venezuela under Hugo Chávez, 1999-2009 José Ramón Merentes 220

LGBT Rights in Ecuador's 2008 Constitution: Victories and Setbacks Selena Xie Javier Corrales 224

Part 4 The State and Public Policies

Friendly Government, Cruel Society: AIDS and the Politics of Homosexual Strategic Mobilization in Brazil Eduardo J. Gómez 233

Sexual Rights of Gays, Lesbians, and Transgender Persons in Latin America: A Judge's View Roger Raupp Rios 251

Chile: Seizing Empowerment Tim Frasca, 2005 259

Speech of the President of the Brazilian Republic at the Opening of the First National Conference of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites, and Transsexuals Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 2008 Nicole Panico 265

Interview with Mariela Castro on the Future of Sex and Socialism in Cuba Anastasia Haydulina, 2008 270

Out in Public: Gay and Lesbian Activism in Nicaragua Florence E. Babb, 2004 274

Part 5 Intrasociety Relations

The Rationale of Collective Action within Sexual-Rights Movements: An Abstract Analysis of Very Concrete Experiences Mario Pecheny, 2004 Mariana Alcañiz 283

Sexual Orientation and Human Rights in the Americas Andrew Reding 290

Desire, TV, Panic, and Violence Surrounding the Transgendered in Argentina: The Metamorphoses of 1998 Alejandro Modarelli, 2004 Mariana Alcañiz 303

Lesbians in (Cyber)Space: The Politics of the Internet in Latin American On- and Off-line Communities Elisabeth Jay Friedman, 2007 312

Gay Space in Havana Scott Larson, 2004 334

Divergence between LGBTI Legal, Political, and Social Progress in the Caribbean and Latin America Jim Wilets 349

The Fight and Flight of Reinaldo Arenas Rafael Ocasio, 2008 358

From Invisible Subjects to Citizens: A Report on Human Rights and Lesbians in Paraguay, 2006 Rosa M. Posa Guinea Carolina Robledo Desh Camila Zabala Peroni, on behalf of Aireana Group forLesbian Rights, 2006 Sarah Harper 365

The LGBT Organizational Density of World Cities Javier Corrales 372

Part 6 Diversities Within

Political Practices and Alliance Strategies of the Chilean GLBTT Movement Héctor Núñez González, 2005 Sarah Harper 381

"The Gay Pride March? They're Not Talking About Me": The Politicization of Differences in the Argentine GLTTTB Movement Aluminé Moreno Sarah Harper 387

The Feminism-Lesbianism Relationship in Latin America: A Necessary Link Yuderkys Espinosa Miñoso, 2007 Joan Flores 401

Transvestism and Public Space: Transvestism and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite, and Transsexual Movement Josefina Fernández, 2004 Zoe Fenson 406

"Every Jack to His Trade? ": Power Arrangements, Policies of Identity, and Market Segmentation within the Homosexual Movement Isadora Lins França, 2006 Nicole Panico 421

Appendix: Timeline of LGBT Political Landmarks in the Americas Javier Corrales 429

Credits for Original Publications 437

Index 439

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