Agape Christian Reconciliation Conversations: Exploring the Intersections of Culture, Religiousness and Homosexual Identity in Latino and European Americans
Peter Barbosa, Hector Torres, Marc Anthony Silva, and Noshaba Khan
Walking into a Catholic church, you immediately notice is how LGBTQ exclusive it truly is. Many who do participate in these religious settings tend to be closeted. In "Agape Christian Reconciliation Conversations: Exploring the Intersections of Culture, Religiousness and Homosexual Identity in Latino and European Americans,"Peter Barbosa, Hector Torres, Marc Anthony Silva, and Noshaba Khan show the double oppression LGBTQ Latinx communities face. Latinx who identify as LGBTQ face multiple oppressions which also includes discrimination as a result of their sexuality and ethnicity. Those who are both Latinx and LGBTQ tend to have internal conflicts with their identities since they have to find a way to fit into both worlds.
Latinx culture itself can be very heterosexist which oppresses “many gay and lesbian members feeling pressure to remain closeted” (Barbosa, Torres, Silva & Khan, pg 102). Those who remain closeted do it in order to avoid ridicule and any discrimination from the community they grew up in and stay accepted as part of a community. For a person who identifies as Latino/ Latina, the role of a family is extremely important and plays a critical role since familialism protects individuals from pressures of “socioeconomic and political pressure of immigration, acculturation and racism” (Barbosa, Torres, Silva & Khan, pg 103). Taking familialism away from a person can lead them to feel vulnerable and socially isolated which is why in turn many individuals hide their sexual orientation from their families due to the traditional machismo and religious values that have upheld a negative attitude toward LGBTQ individuals.
The Catholic church tends to condemn homosexuality and praise heterosexuality, negatively impacting the lives of Latino LGBTQ communities. This institution therefore plays as a source of alienation and in promotes negative attitudes towards homosexuality. Due to their rank as Pope, religious leaders continuously condemn homosexuality and since they are seen as being holy, they “bring guilt and anxiety to many Catholic LGBTQ people” (Barbosa, Torres, Silva & Khan, pg 103). This discourages numerous individuals from coming out and forming a healthy identity. Since the Latino culture practices machismo, it makes it extremely hard for a person to come out since they have to abide by the traditional gender roles that make up the Latino culture and deal with the discrimination and oppression they may face in such a homophobic culture.
Barbosa, P., Torres, H., Silva, M., & Khan, N. (2009). Agapé Christian Reconciliation Conversations: Exploring the Intersections of Culture, Religiousness, and Homosexual Identity in Latino and European Americans. Journal of Homosexuality,57(1), 98-116.