La Vida Alegre

a report on Latin America by George Francis

Last summer I travelled overland by local buses through Central America, pausing in every country by turn, to Venezuela, where I stayed for over five weeks. This was not my first visit to Latin America, but this time I was determined to learn all I could about homosexuality in these lands-having become much less reticent in my outlook through the intervening years. Accordingly I talked with whom I could, and observed carefully.

The first thing we have to face up to in any consideration of Latin America is the fact of "machismo." To the North American way of thinking, this is a nigh impossible task. It certainly baffles me, though a heterosexual may have a better chance of comprehending.

What is machismo? Even defining it is difficult. "Macho" is maleness,

the cult of super-maleness, masculinity, the very essence of the male; and to the Latin American man it is imperative to proclaim and to prove this at all times. Outward and visible signs of this are the highly fashionable mustache, and the universal long pants. Not too often the clean-shaven face: shorts, never.

More importantly, it is automatically assumed that every man has at least one casa chica, mistress, and no men's conversation continues for more than five minutes without a recital of "conquests," and a gossipdiscussion of the latest affairs of Felipe or Paco.

As I see it, this can be little more than talk; for along with this announced abundant sex-life, goes a fanatical insistence on the virginity and constancy of all female relatives. If this be true, the many "conquests"

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