Machos Maricones & Gays: Cuba and Homosexuality [Paperback]

Ian Lumsden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 1996

This remarkable account of gays in Cuba links the treatment of male homosexuality under Castro with prejudices and preconceptions prevalent in Cuban society before the Revolution. Ian Lumsden argues that much of the present discussion does not acknowledge the significant improvements that have occurred in the last decade. As an antidote to what he considers wide-spread misinformation, Lumsden locates the current issues surrounding homosexual identity within the broad context of Cuban culture, history, and social policy and makes revealing comparisons to the experience of homosexuals in other Latin American countries. Lumsden explores the historic roots of the oppression of homosexuals through such issues as race, religion, and gender. He considers the cultural history and current erosion of traditional 'machismo', the correlation between traditional women's roles and the relationships between gay men, and homosexuality as defined by the law and as presented in typical sexual education. He addresses the international controversy over state-imposed sanatoriums for HIV/AIDS patients, and details the social scene, the varying ideals among different generations of gay Cubans, gay life and family ties, and the difference between being publicly and privately gay in Cuba. Lumsden's involvement over the years in gay culture in Cuba, his interviews with gay Cuban men, and his formidable scholarship produce a strikingly honest, accurate portrayal of the changes in homosexual life. Author note: Ian Lumsden, Associate Professor of Political Science at Atkinson College, York University, is the author of "Homosexuality, Society, and the State in Mexico".

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[This book] is sure to upset both sides of the Cuban Question, which speaks well for the author's thoroughness and his open-mindedness...adding to [its] value as a resource on gay Cuban life is a comprehensive bibliography, an essay on santeria by Tomas Fernandez Robaina, and the 'Manifesto of Gay and Lesbian Association of Cuba.'" --Lambda Book Report

From the Publisher

A historically based, first-hand report of contemporary homosexuality in Cuban society and culture

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press (January 29, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156639371X
• ISBN-13: 978-1566393713
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #985,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating View of Gays in Cuba, December 10, 1999

By 

Janelle Orsi (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Machos Maricones & Gays: Cuba and Homosexuality (Paperback)

In his book "Machos, Maricones, and Gays," Ian Lumsden takes an intriguing look at gay life and homophobia in the context of Cuban history, beginning in pre-Revolutionary times. He gives background on the history of Cuban values and politics, and shows how they have shaped Cuba's treatment of homosexuals, particularly focussing on the experience of gay men.

Lumsden spent a great deal of time in Cuba, studying the history and interviewing individuals. As the title implies, Lumsden focuses a large part of the work on explaining the development of gender roles and their ideals and stereotypes. He elaborates this to show how these view of gender resulted in the eventual institutionalization of homophobia. The pre-Revolutionary values of machismo entailed a social rejection of men that weren't masculine enough. When the Revolution arrived, it left almost no aspect of Cuban social life untouched. The Revolutionary government sought to regulate gender roles; therefore, all those who did not fit Cuba's ideal of gender were subjected to persecution. Homosexuals were put in prison camps, and subjected to physical and mental abuses. Lumsden tends to place perhaps too much blame on the United States for the social problems in Cuba. In an attempt to overthrow all things revolutionary in Cuba, the United States has instituted a trade embargo, which Lumsden says is one of the main things hindering development in Cuba. He says that this has resulted in a continued attempt to regulate gender roles, and therefore, homosexuality, in order maintain cohesion and to gain economic prosperity.

The values of machismo continue to this day, but Lumsden optimistically argues that traditional values of gender and sex are being relaxed, particularly as women take on more traditionally male roles. The picture he paints of Cuba today shows that institutionalized homophobia is slowly disintegrating. He gives a positive image of the media, which is moving away from homophobic portrayals. Lumsden also discusses Cuba's controversial treatment of AIDS victims, who are quarantined in special hospitals.

One strength of Lumsden's work is his emphasis that homophobia comes in many forms and has developed out of diverse historical circumstances. Values in the United States are marked by extreme individualism, whereas Cuba has an alternate conception of human rights, which leans more to collectivism. Therefore, the aspirations of gay rights activists in Cuba are somewhat different from what U.S. activists are trying to achieve. The immediate needs are gays in Cuba are still more centered on gaining economic security, while issues such as gay adoption and marriage aren't of greatest concern. Lumsden's work clearly analyzes the uniqueness of the situation for gays in Cuba, resulting in a fascinating and illuminating read.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Reading Between the Lines, November 17, 2001

By 

Samantha (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Machos Maricones & Gays: Cuba and Homosexuality (Paperback)

Ian Lumsden's book Machos, Maricones, and Gays is both interesting in its focus and unique in its perspective. It unquestionably gives the reader an opportunity to see a side of the issue that, especially if living under an anti-Castro government such as America, one might be less likely to encounter.
I found much of the information fascinating (such as his description of machismo and how it functions within the society) and upon closing the book, felt I had a much greater understanding of the situation in Cuba.
However, while the prospect of a different perception seemed appealing, I feel that the author's own apparent biases were both distracting to the subject and, at times, bordering on infuriating.
Not only does he continually speak strongly unfavorably of the United States, he uses this repeatedly, as well as other means, to somehow lighten or excuse almost all horrible events within Cuba and all actions of Fidel Castro against gays.
For example, he talks (on page 70) about how the slave labor that camp members were required to do (such as harvesting sugar cane) was needed because of America's blockade. Granted, the US's stance on Cuba greatly harmed its economy, however, one cannot go on to say that America is therefore responsible for Cuba's slave labor. Many incidents, such as this, upset me to the point that I had to put the book down (or write a nasty note in the sidelines).
Even more frequent, the author uses wording or makes underling assumptions in order to further excuse the atrocities of Cuba. He writes (on page 69), "Although some camps were reserved exclusively for homosexuals, overall conditions in such camps were not necessarily worse than in other camps in which homosexuals were a minority. In some respects, they might have even been better as a result of the collective efforts of their inmates to humanize their environment by adding a gay touch to their barracks and camp life". For one, he is skirting the issue that it is atrocious that gays were even put into such camps, and two, "not necessarily" does not clarify anything. Further, his assumption about the `gay touch' sounds almost comical and greatly undermines the seriousness of the issue. One would never say about the Holocaust that gays had it better because they could add a `gay touch' to their barracks. It would be consitered insulting.
Also, I felt that many of his statements were contradictory, and I often found myself searching back through the pages in order to justify my claim. Such is the case, on page fifty-six, when Lumsden discredits Americans as not having strong family attachment in comparison to Cubans. He goes on the next paragraph, then, to talk about how the sexual affairs of husbands were "tolerated so long as the preeminence of wives over other women was affirmed in public". Somehow that does not seem to be harmonious with family attachment.
And every time he does mention something negative about Cubans, he premises it with `but it is better than or equal to other Latin American countries' or with some negetive comment about the US.
While, in certain cases he has a valid point, I feel that, for me at least, this continual `excusing' took away from the work.
I do realize, however, that it is very difficult to explain a different culture, and, many times, this is what he was trying to do. Yet, through subtly (and not so subtly) attacking another culture, he must realize that he runs the risk of isolating his reader (such as he did me).
Upon finishing the book, in spite of this, I did feel as though I had learned a great deal about Cuba. However, I feel that a lot of my knowledge was aquired through reading between the lines.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Look @ Homosexuality in Cuba, December 7, 1999

By 

Justina Cross (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Machos Maricones & Gays: Cuba and Homosexuality (Paperback)

Machos, Maricones, and Gays by Ian Lumsden is an excellent overview of what it means to be homosexual in Cuba presently and before the Revolution. Lumsden holds much hope in the Revolution for changing the lives of homosexuals. Thus, Lumsden sometimes in his favor of the Revolution, and as a Canadian writer, attacks the United States through his diction regarding American views toward the Revolution, capitalism, and homosexuality.

One of the most interesting discussions in the book is the way homosexuality is perceived as a product of machismo. In Cuba, homosexuals are regarded as lacking masculinity-they have the passivity of a woman. Thus, Lumsden also relates the homosexual struggle to the struggle of women. He discusses how policies toward homosexuality are both created by institutions, like the government and the church, as well as society, in the cities and rural areas.

As one of the few books that tackles the oppression of homosexuality in Cuba, it is very readable. The book is organized clearly and provides commentary in a factual context. Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers who are interested in gay issues at the global level.