Comments on: Gaybriel Discusses Everything Gay And Latino: All You Wanted To Know About The Word Maricón, But Were Afraid To Ask

By: Idetrorce

Idetrorce — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 01:00:58 +0000

very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce

By: calitexican

calitexican — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:09:30 +0000

um, what happened to talking about women who love other women (for real and not for men’s pleasure)? the male privilege lives long and strong no matter what the sexual orientation…

By: mercedes

mercedes — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:38:04 +0000

To add to the list, I thought I’d pass along some Guatemalan jewels:

hueco - widely used, I don’t think it needs an explanation
mariposon - this is my grandmother’s choice gay pejorative

By: cindylu

cindylu — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:00:26 +0000

Great post! This reminds me of the time in high school Spanish I learned about all the many differences in the way we refer to things like buses throughout Latin America.

I’m with andonthatnote that combating both homophobia and heterosexism go hand in hand with combating sexism. In college the queer Latino student group worked very closely with the feminist Latina student group. The issues cross over quite nicely.

As for me, I’ll um wear my rainbow chonís and socks with pride.

By: Marco

Marco — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:02:53 +0000

God, viado also just means “deer” in Portuguese. Which I had known that sooner. I took a dance class with the teacher going “If you’re a man you dance like this, a woman, like this. And a viadinho… like THIS!” (slaps forehead).

Should a flamboyant dance teacher in a silver silk shirt be making fun of the viadinhos? Ay, Latin America…

By: ponte

ponte — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:15:29 +0000

Pargo (red snapper) is another term used widely in Venezuela, as well as mariposon.

By: MexFiles

MexFiles — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:00:15 +0000

Impressive scholarship!

To add to your collection, Gaybriel:

“Amiga de yucateca,” — more or less the equivalent of “friend of Dorothy”

“gualote” — I know it’s “turkey”. “Pipila” — “turkey hen” is sometimes used for a prostitute (female), but there is a folkloric hero of the Mexican War of Independence known only as “el Pipila” — which, given the mixed gender usage and slang, suggest he was a rent boy. Or a TV.

“El otro sindacato” — obviously, “the other side” but with a touch of class consciousness. I found it a useful phrase in DF, where I usually walked home from Metro Revolucion through the zona de tolerencia. The working girls stopped asking when I they found out I belonged to the “other union.”

I’ve heard “Cuilletín” (Nahuatl forr “cocksucker”) but how much its used (even by Nahuatl speakers) I can’t say.

By: La Cindy

La Cindy — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 23:04:14 +0000

@andonthatnote: Word. You should see the comments we get around the Guanabee office from our own staffers about all the gay and straight-male sexploitation stories we post. The straight guys haaaate it because they feel emasculated. I’m like, ‘welcome to our world, boys.’

By: andonthatnote

andonthatnote — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 06:55:33 +0000

@ Tromelio: because misogyny and homophobia go hand in hand. Being gay is s “threat” to the patriarchal establishment (undermining the traditional definition of masculinity). Think of when people ask (gay men) about “who’s the woman.” They see it as someone having to be subordinate, and in “tradtional” heterosexual missionary sex the woman is subordinate. To homophobes, gays are de facto women. So until the condition of women improves, homophobia will still run rampant. Not to say that one should take precedence over the other. I think LGBT groups and feminists should work together.

By: carnitas

carnitas — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:55:41 +0000

I am straight but Gabriel looks really hottt.

By: Brigit

Brigit — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 21:09:40 +0000

Ahooora entiendo… In PR puto means womanizer, not gay.
A lot of weird convos make sense now… not cool.

By: Tromelio

Tromelio — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 17:45:10 +0000

@Guanabe Bust A Nut: I agree there is a lot that has to be done to bring equality among the sexes, but why should this progress take precedent over sexual preference?
Ok. how do you like me know?

By: Guana Bust A Nut

Guana Bust A Nut — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 07:26:02 +0000

Before changing homophobic attitudes in Latin America, one should start with improving the status of women (and all things feminine) in Latin America. That’s the biggest problem. Women are certainly better off than they used to be, but the success of women in Latin America pales in comparison to that of women in the states and some European countries.

Women are often devalued in Latin America, and that misogyny, in turn, fuels homophobia in many Latin American countries.

By: La Cindy

La Cindy — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 01:05:10 +0000

i believe it was Bosrican who taught me “mascapillow” for which I will be eternally grateful.

By: Latin_Princess

Latin_Princess — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:57:50 +0000

I was surprised to see so many variations for “homosexual” in South America. But I guess it’s no different than Pillow Biter, Fudge Packer, Ball Smacker and Wide Receiver being used in different parts of the U.S.

I think I’ll make the world more homofriendly by busting out those Mork rainbow suspenders from 3rd grade. Remember those?