Julio on Gay Hispanic Life

Name: Julio
Gay.com Member Name: mexicanguy07
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Sexual Orientation: Gay
Birthplace: Mexico

As a Latino/Hispanic, do you have a "coming-out" story specific to your culture? Or do you have any stories describing why you feel you cannot "come out" as an LGBT Latino?

I actually already came out. Sometimes I wish I never came out to my parents....


Who is your favorite Latino/Hispanic icon? Why?

My favorite Latino icon is Gloria Trevi, a.k.a. Mexican Madonna. I love her. She is just such a great person and she does so much for gay people. She even made our gay anthem for us Latinos.

 
Are you aware of any LGBT Latino/Hispanic celebrities or public figures, or can you name any that you know to be gay-friendly or pro-gay?

Christian Chavez is a gay Latino icon; he was married to a Canadian guy. He represents the gay community wherever he goes; not too long ago he wore a shirt to an awards ceremony that said “Legalize Gay.”

How did you learn about sex and sexual orientation? Was it from family, friends, religion, etc?

I kind of just learned by myself. In my family sex can't even be mentioned.

 
What are your perceptions of what makes a gay man (top/bottom or other roles) or a lesbian in Latino/Hispanic culture?

I honestly don't know. I just think that everybody should be who they want to be and what they feel happy being.

 

Could you provide an experience where you were a victim of gay bashing/abuse from fellow Latinos vs. non-Hispanic people, whether you were "out" or not?

Once I went to this wedding and me and my friend went to the drug store really quick to buy some gum or something like that. We were leaving the store as some Mexican guys were coming in -- one of them said “Look at this fag trying to act like a man and lying to his chick.” (I guess he thought we were boyfriend/girlfriend.) I'm a very outspoken person and always say what I feel, so I turned around and put him in his place.... asked him if he had a problem and that he didn't give a damn if I was or wasn't gay. I never really had any problems with non-Spanish people.

 
How did you learn about STDs and safe sex? Was it culturally specific through organizations or just through personal experiences?

I learned through school and a counselor that I had through high school. She always made sure I had condoms and she got me into the habit of testing myself every single year for HIV and STDs.


If you are out to your family, describe how difficult/easy your "coming-out" experience was. Was there any particular family member you felt most comfortable telling? Why? Was there someone you felt least comfortable telling? Why?

Well, I actually felt like I should've never came out to my parents — it’s been hell since then. My dad is a macho Mexican man and you guys can just imagine that. When I told my dad I was gay he told me he’d rather kill me than have a son like me. Trust me, it hurt and it still does. Me and him usually don't talk anymore, but the way I look at it now is that if he wants to be part of my life he is more than welcome to -- if he doesn't, he is the one missing it.
 

If you are actively involved in the larger gay community, do you as a Latino/Hispanic ever feel either objectified or discriminated against by others because of your race or ethnicity?

Not at all. I feel that all people in the gay community know what it feels like to be discriminated against and don't do it to other people because of that fact.

Gay/Lesbian and Hispanic? We want to know more about the cultural experiences of being gay in the Latino/Hispanic community. If you've got a story, we want you to share it with our readers. Click here to share your story.