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Alex42 · Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 77 Location: Salta, Argentina

I know virtually nothing about transvestite culture in the UK, nor in Argentina, where I am. However I get the impression that there's a lot more of them here! Or there may be the same number, but they're raised to a prominence that they don't get at home.

In England, apart from the occasional drag act, I rarely hear about them. But in Argentina, every town (well, certainly Salta, Mendoza and BA) has a well-known area where transvestite prostitutes gather. And that's another thing - it seems that here, transvestite = gay prostitute, which is certainly not the case in the UK. Take Eddie Izzard for example:-)

So what's going on? Is the situation similar in all Latin American countries? And why? And has anybody got any explanations or hard facts on this issue?

All opinions welcome, of course!

RyanS · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 356

Weirdest question ever.

Alex42 · Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 77 Location: Salta, Argentina

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Ryan S.
That`s the weirdest response to a perfectly reasonable question.

I`ve often wondered about the same. I suppose it`s a reaction to the machismo culture of Latin America by its denizens who are not particularly machismo.

vivaBarca · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:12 pm Post subject:

It's funny that you raise this point...I couldn't agree more. Transvestism seems much more prevalent in the South American countries I've been in than in Europe or the U.S.

Granted I haven't made it my business to frequent these types of areas in the U.S., where I'm from, but even still I've never encountered (accidentally, I assure you) so many transvestites in my entire life until I got to Argentina. In fact where I was living in Cordoba the lad/girl bartender at a hole in the wall a few blocks away was pretty well known on the social circuit - quasi-legit, if you will. Also when I was Asuncion I was told the downtown area gets taken over at night by fishnet-clad folks with "armas" - originally I nodded in assent, noting that yes, these women indeed had "armas..." until it was clarified that no, most of them are hookers and they all carry guns.

In BA I actually lived a few blocks from Godoy Cruz street, lined with telos and notorious for its nighttime populace...and we haven't even talked about the parks in Palermo. Dios Mio...I know way too much about this stuff.

Anyway, I'm absolutely befuddled when it comes to answering why there's such a large presence of transvestites. Maybe it's something in the water?

kingkristopher · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 62

Yep,

I've had the same experiences in the countries I've visited (stay away from Avenida Libertador in Caracas after nightfall!). My guess is that it has to do with the machismo culture of Latin America. It's definite not acceptable to be gay down here (despite what some may say) so many rationalise it by pretending to be women (at least at night).

It should be noted that these "women" a part of a booming business, so they obviously have their clientele (again probably rationalising that they're not really gay if they're sleeping with what looks like a woman).

I will say though that In CCS at least, the majority seem to be transexuals (living full-time as women/ post-op) as opposed to Ecuadaor and Panama where they are mostly tranvestites. Take that for what you will...

(sorry for all the parentheses)

Cheers

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

yeah, they tend to be seen as dangerous in south america. on reina victoria in quito there were loads of them and everyone warned that these birls/goys were as likely to stomp you as they were to offer their bottoms or mouths for your pleasure.

on the other hand, maybe there are the same amount in the US and europe, but that in south america they're just not as good at disguising their packages and so they tend to, er, stick out a bit more.

tomteacher · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 34 Location: Changwon Korea

I think people are more obsessed with transvestites in Lain America. The comment about it being a reactin to the machista attitude may be true but what about in Brazil where homosexuality is far more accepted? They have loads of highly conspicuous transvestite prostitutes there!

dimitri25 · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Daejeon, S.Korea

wow...interesting observation....i noticed it too, that there were a lot of transvestites and transexuals in S. America. The thing that struck me the most was that they would be in the streets in the daytime or grocery shopping dressed as women...well, in brazil at least. This was surprising to me considering that the US is supposed to be more liberal and open-minded that Latin America.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

dimitri25 · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Daejeon, S.Korea

well is650,
think about it this way... the US has come a long way in accepting homosexuality as is evident in TV shows, political issues, support groups, etc. Through the power of television and radio, I think the social norms in the US toward homosexuality and a range of other things has relaxed a bit. Latin America hasn't come that far yet. Living in Latin America, you know about the machismo attitude, strong religious beliefs, etc. Yeah, sure there are certain tiny parts in Latin America that aren't so conservative, such as the central areas in very large cities, but in general Latin America is very conservative in regards to homosexuality. Thus in this respect, I see the US as more open-minded and liberal.

Now i do see where you're coming from...that it is acceptable in some parts and not in others...yeah, that goes for the rest of the world....that is a very general idea though....every place has social norms and ideas about what is unacceptable.