Guatemala Gay Life
35 years after Stonewall, the closet door is opening
by GayGuatemala
Guatemala is a country of paradoxes and contrasts where beauty and wealth is visible everywhere but cannot conceal the poverty and despair that is equally prevalent. Eleven million people, a few thousand fantastically wealthy, most incredibly poor, live side by side in this mountainous Central American country nestled between El Salvador to the south and Mexico and Belize to the north.
Gay traveler arriving in Guatemala may certeinly feel the paradox and the contrast of our country. The so called gay life has emerged from its closets and the scene has evolved fastly in the last years. Thousands of Guatemalans meanwhile still lead a miserable existence and many of them still lead a miserable existence hiding theirs sexual preferences to survive in this conservatorian Catholic, machista and very violent society. Most of the organized gay life in Guatemala takes place around Guatemala City, that's means the capital itself a sprawling, polluted metropolis of over 3 million people.
One of the gay spotlights in town is Genetic. This recently remodelled discotheque is full of it capacity on Saturdays specially at night. We have there two dance floors as well as a lovely rooftop patio and even a "dark room." Outside of the disco, parked cars lined the streets for blocks. Almost everyone inside was under 40, and nobody in the bar seemed either worried or oppressed.
But leaving the bar, the bone-chilling wind of the Guatemalan night quickly reminds one of the violence of Guatemalan culture and its hostility toward men and women who do not live up to the cultural stereotypes of how they are "supposed to be." Several transvestites and gay men have been killed in recent years.
Guatemala, as most of Central American countries in the region representants still a serious problem for gay and lesbian people. Only about 10% of the population here even goes to the bars or Discos. Most of the gay people are completely in the closet, afraid of being discovered because of theirs sexuals preferences.
Public cruising is still a popular and even if dangerous way for gay Guatemalans to hook up. In the area sorrounding the Cathedral it is easy to meet men, but it is not easy to know if it is safe or not to go with them. These young men mostly are inmigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador and often desperately in need in need of cash so virtually they are only Gays for pay.
Shopping mall centers areas such Tikal Futura, Miraflores and Proceres are also well known for late afternoon cruising.
Gay traveler arriving in Guatemala may certeinly feel the paradox and the contrast of our country. The so called gay life has emerged from its closets and the scene has evolved fastly in the last years. Thousands of Guatemalans meanwhile still lead a miserable existence and many of them still lead a miserable existence hiding theirs sexual preferences to survive in this conservatorian Catholic, machista and very violent society. Most of the organized gay life in Guatemala takes place around Guatemala City, that's means the capital itself a sprawling, polluted metropolis of over 3 million people.
One of the gay spotlights in town is Genetic. This recently remodelled discotheque is full of it capacity on Saturdays specially at night. We have there two dance floors as well as a lovely rooftop patio and even a "dark room." Outside of the disco, parked cars lined the streets for blocks. Almost everyone inside was under 40, and nobody in the bar seemed either worried or oppressed.
But leaving the bar, the bone-chilling wind of the Guatemalan night quickly reminds one of the violence of Guatemalan culture and its hostility toward men and women who do not live up to the cultural stereotypes of how they are "supposed to be." Several transvestites and gay men have been killed in recent years.
Guatemala, as most of Central American countries in the region representants still a serious problem for gay and lesbian people. Only about 10% of the population here even goes to the bars or Discos. Most of the gay people are completely in the closet, afraid of being discovered because of theirs sexuals preferences.
Public cruising is still a popular and even if dangerous way for gay Guatemalans to hook up. In the area sorrounding the Cathedral it is easy to meet men, but it is not easy to know if it is safe or not to go with them. These young men mostly are inmigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador and often desperately in need in need of cash so virtually they are only Gays for pay.
Shopping mall centers areas such Tikal Futura, Miraflores and Proceres are also well known for late afternoon cruising.
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου