Infamous Desire: Male Homosexuality in Colonial Latin America

Abstract

In Infamous Desire Pete Sigal successfully weaves together works that cover different geographic regions, employ distinct methodological approaches, and use different types of source material. The majority of the pieces are previously unpublished, and Richard Trexler’s and Serge Gruzinski’s previously published contributions are difficult to acquire in their original forms. While each chapter addresses rarely studied topics—such as Ward Stavig’s piece on same-sex relations among Andeans and Luiz Mott’s on hidden male homosexuals in marginal areas of early Brazil—each does so in a particular way. The volume is enriched by the variety of disciplinary approaches, such as the contribution from Michael Horswell from the perspective of literary criticism.One issue the contributors faced concerns the availability of sources. Since male homosexuality fell under the rubric of deviant behavior investigated by the church, the majority of the contributors use Inquisition records, either alone or in combination with other sources. The corpus of sources might be considered small if compared to records for other topics. Those that engaged in same-sex intercourse operated with extreme care, lest they fall victim to trials that could culminate in brutal punishments. Under such circumstances, the scarcity of sources might not necessarily mean a lack of activity, as Luiz Mott postulates (pp. 190–91). By undertaking a queer reading of the existing documents and employing methodological approaches that help discern hidden transcripts and subnarratives, a seemingly small corpus of sources need not hamper the study of a given topic.In one way or another, the chapters directly and indirectly address the issue of what constituted male homosexuality in the societies and in the time frames discussed. As with all socially defined modes of behavior, male homosexuality did not have universal taxonomies of behavior. In some cases, only the passive received the label of “sodomite,” while in others both passives and actives were viewed with equal scorn by heteronormative societies. Furthermore, male homosexuality must be viewed outside strict definitions of binary gender systems and notions of complementarity. In indigenous societies, as Pete Sigal argues for the Yucatec Maya, male homosexuals were not a disruptive and noncomplementary element. Rather, they fit into preexisting gender constructions that viewed them as essential participants in gender schemes based not on linear male and female dualities but rather on multifaceted sexualities possessed by deities and mortals alike. Such gender systems permitted a larger social space for male homosexuals among the Yucatec Maya than among the Spaniards they came in contact with. Their differing social definitions and norms would have profound implications for the hybrid societies that developed in the colonial period.The volume’s importance lies not only in the topics covered but also in its challenges to traditional interpretations of male homosexuality in colonial societies. The dangers of persecution coerced many desiring same-sex relations into inhibition, if not outright denial. In some cases, however—whether because the arm of the Inquisition lacked a thorough investigative capacity or because the marginal nature of the society attracted individuals more tolerant of “deviant” behavior—male homosexuals acted more openly than they did in areas with more rigid social control described in chapters by Luiz Mott and David Higgs.Although the interpretations and use of data are generally strong, at times the writing is heavily peppered with the language of postmodernism. The reader without some basic understanding of postmodern theoretical constructs will be challenged in some places. Another minor weakness has to do with the conclusions. Some of the chapters end abruptly, perhaps betraying their genesis as parts of larger works or indicating that the authors wanted to continue with their discussions beyond the space allotted. The use of specialized language and somewhat abrupt conclusions does not in anyway detract from the overall high quality of the volume, however.Infamous Desire stands alone as an anthology of cutting-edge research on male homosexuality and male same-sex desire in Portuguese and Spanish America. Sigal provides the connective tissue to draw the different chapters into a logical and coherent whole. The book is essential reading for students of sexuality specifically and for colonialists in general. It adds important voices to the growing scholarship on sexuality. Consequently, the book would serve well in graduate seminars and undergraduate upper-division courses alike.