Latino Gay Men and HIV: Culture, Sexuality, and Risk Behavior [Paperback]

Rafael M. Diaz (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415913888 | ISBN-13: 978-0415913881 | Publication Date: November 20, 1997 | Edition: 1

With research based on focus group and individual interviews in the United States, as well as a thorough and integrative review of the current literature, Latino Gay Men and HIV discusses the six main sociocultural factors in Latino communities -- machismo, homophobia, family cohesion, sexual silence, poverty and racism--which undermine safe sex practices. In an attempt to explain the alarmingly high incidence of unprotected intercourse in this population, this in-depth cultural and psychological analysis shows how an apparent incongruence between knowledge or intention and behavior can possess its own sociocultural logic and meaning.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Over the past 10 years, AIDS educators have consistently had one truth driven home to them: it is impossible to talk about HIV, AIDS, and safe sex without talking about how people live their lives. This is the message that resonates through Rafael M. Diaz's Latino Gay Men and HIV. Diaz, trained as a social worker, is a Professor of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco, and has created a panoramic portrait of the wide range of issues that Latino gay men deal with in making decisions about safe sex. Discussing issues of poverty, class, ethnicity, and gender as well as concepts of "manliness" in Latin culture, Diaz supplies us with some steps that might be taken to help stop the spread of AIDS among Latino men. Perhaps more important, his writing conveys an insightful, nuanced portrait of gay Latino men's lives. Perceptive, intelligent, and sensitively written, Latino Gay Men and HIV is an important addition to AIDS literature and to the growing body of work that examines the diversity of gay life and culture.

Review

This is a powerful book that reveals much about the Latinos. ..all this is written here provides a better understanding for researcher who is faced with creating strategies that can help to educate the Latino men abour AIDS. -- AIDS Book Review Journal
Dr. Diaz poignantly shows that it is not ignorance of the guidelines for safer sex that explains why Latino gay-identified men continue to engage in unsafe sex. For the guidelines to be accepted and practiced, they must be more than commands. The author convincingly argues that they must be embodied in an understanding of the subjective meanings of their sexual unions within a culture that is pervasively homophobic and sexist. -- John P. De Cecco, Center for Research and Education in Sexuality
In short, Latino Gay Men and HIV is an intelligent and well-written book--it is a major contribution to the HIV disease prevention literature. Additionally, it adds to the general literature on race, ethnicity, and disease. Any HIV/AIDS researcher,activist, or provider will find this book accessible and useful, and I should add: important!...Diaz has produced an excellent piece of scholarship. -- Alexander Ortega, Journal of Gay and Lesbian Medical Association
While Latino Gay Men and HIV: Culture, Sexuality, and Risk Behavior is obviously written to target Latino gay men, it will benefit any prevention worker or clinician dealing with HIV and cultural issues. Indeed, it is exemplary of what culturally-informed work can be when it moves beyond superficial rhetoric and reaches for the heart of the matter. -- Focus AIDS
The book is well written, and the arguments offered are passionate and compelling...The book offers innovative models as well as interventions. It should be read by HIV/AIDS researchers and community activists, regardless of the ethnic group with which they work. -- Maria Cecilia Zea, George Washington University
Understanding the impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic on Lationo gay men is one of the most pressing needs in our currnet grappling with this epidemic. Rafael Diaz is uniquely placed to write about is issue and this text is an important and most welcome addition to the literature. -- John Bancoft, Indiana University
Dr. Diaz poignantly shows that it is not ignorance of the guidelines for safer sex that explains why Latino gay-identified men continue to engage in unsafe sex. For the guidelines to be accepted and practiced, they must be more than commands. The author convincingly argues that they must be embodied in an understanding of the subjective meanings of their sexual unions within a culture that is pervasively homophobic and sexist. -- John P. De Cecco, Center for Research and Education in Sexuality
...illuminating background material on the AIDS crisis among gay Latinos. -- Publishers Weekly
One of the many important points raised . . . is the need for men to take responsibility for their actions. While this may seem like an obvious point, it is one that can't be stressed enough. -- En La Vida

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (November 20, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415913888
• ISBN-13: 978-0415913881
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,682,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars muy informativo i excelente!, June 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Latino Gay Men and HIV: Culture, Sexuality, and Risk Behavior (Paperback)

Dr. Diaz talks about the multiple factors which may contribute to gay Latino men's susceptibility to contract HIV/AIDS. This book is great in that it does not assume that all Latinos associate gays with whiteness or that those who are attracted to men refrain from identifying as gay. It ends with a promotion of activism and a description of a gay Latino organization that is fighting the disease. Every GLM that I know in San Francisco owns a copy and every gay person of color should go out and buy one for themselves. This book is an important contribution to gay studies and Latino studies.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, May 28, 2011

By 

shannon - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Latino Gay Men and HIV: Culture, Sexuality, and Risk Behavior (Paperback)

Excellent text about a very complex issue. While this book focuses on Latino gay men, the psychological barriers concerning risk are very relevant to almost everyone. Definitely worth reading and sharing with friends.

0 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Awful, September 30, 2005

By 

K. Brillante (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Latino Gay Men and HIV: Culture, Sexuality, and Risk Behavior (Paperback)

The first few pages are falling out of the book, and you never answered my question about the quality.