According to one observer, a Bolivian who spoke on the condition of anonymity, coming out and living a fairly open lifestyle in the country has much to do with a person’s social standing. The higher a person is in the social structure, the less likely that person is to come out. Lower social standing may provide a better opportunity to come out and live a fairly open life.

It’s no surprise that many Bolivian gays take their “expected” role in families, business, and the military. Still, BoliviaGay.com suggests that sex between men is more “everyday” than expected even though the men involved don’t necessarily identify themselves as gay. This phenomenon is a defining hallmark of Latin machismo. The somewhat outdated Web site www.globalgayz.com sums up the sentiment when it wrote that, “loving someone and having that person were not easily achieved.”

The extent of a LGBT person’s “normalcy” can also depend on where that person lives. In a 2002 BBC report, David Aruquipa, the leader of Bolivia’s most well-known drag queens troupe, said that being openly gay was much easier in LaPaz, where people are “more aware of sexual rights.” Aruquipa went on to say that there is more discrimination in large cities like Santa Cruz.

There are active gay rights organizations in Bolivia, the most well known being Mujeres Creando, a women’s group that tackles a broad spectrum of issues including gay rights. The international media does not devote much time to LGBT issues in Bolivia, so any research may lead the curious in a circle of outdated information.

From personal observation in Bolivia, I didn’t see much evidence of a gay or sexual rights movement. I did see an art exhibit that was highly sexual in nature. After witnessing the reactions of some of the attendees, I realized that a public forum on sexuality of any kind is not considered normal.

It is very difficult to get a real feel for Bolivian politics as it relates to the LGBT community. Bolivia’s parliament passed the Sexual and Reproductive Rights law in 2004, which would have allowed homosexual couples to marry and raise children. The law was supported by then-president Carlos Mesa, but when it crossed his desk he refused to sign it. At the same time, the Catholic Church decried the law as “an assault on the dignity of the family.” Since 2004, there has been no movement on the legislation.

Today, supporters of current Bolivian President Evo Morales hope that his socialistic views will help to even the playing field. BoliviaGay.com includes a message about the hope that Morales will see the benefits of inclusion and equality.

Despite the circumstances, the LGBT community in Bolivia is making progress. The first Gay Pride Parade in the southern region of Cochabamba was held in July. It was complete with drag queens dressed in the traditional costume of the region. Even with this progress, it seems that the biggest obstacle will be the cultural elements of Catholicism and Latin machismo. As long as the Catholic Church ignores the reality of LGBT life and as long as machismo continues to dominate the social expectations of the people, the Bolivian LGBT community will have to step out of the shadows and patiently work for change.

Visit Chris’s Web site at www.chrisamisano.com

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