A Social Geography of Sex

Abstract

In discussions of male homosexuality in Hispanic/Latin American and Anglo/North American contexts, ethnicity is often afforded a key role in structuring sexual identity, with a distinction being made between sexual role patterning (Hispanic, Latin American) and sexual object choice patterning (Anglo, North American). I argue instead that the key factor in shaping distinct patterns of sexual identity among Men who have Sex with Men (MSMs), within the broad though still circumscribed comparative context of Latin American and North America, is the role of particular sites, especially gay bars, in producing gay identity and community.

Key Words:

• Gay bars
• gay identity
• machismo
• ethnicity
• U.S.- Mexican Border
• El Paso
• Juarez
• sex work
• sex cruise scenes