AEGiS-BKREV: Beneath the Equator: Cultures of Desire, Male Homosexuality, and Emerging Gay Communities in Brazil

(BKREV) Beneath the Equator: Cultures of Desire, Male Homosexuality, and Emerging Gay Communities in Brazil

Routledge, 29 West 35th St., New York, NY 10001. 276p., illus., bibliog. ISBN 0-415-91619-4, 0-415-91620-8pbk. $75.00, $19.90pbk.
Richard Parker. 1998.

Parker has written an impressive book that looks deeply in the changing "cultures of desire" in gay communities of Brazil. He has spent many years on his research, looking deeply into all issues that surround male homosexuality in Brazil. From 1989 to 1991 his research focused on the behavioral response to HIV/AIDS in the gay communities; from 1992 to 1993 he looked at the changes that were taking place in the organization of sexual and friendship networks, subcultural universes, and sexual communities; and from 1994 to 1996 he looked at not only the gay communities but the lesbian communities. From all of his research he describes the changing shape of male homosexuality and gay life in Brazil.

The first part, "Cultures of Desire," looks at "Brazilian Homosexualities" and "Contours of the Urban Gay World." The second part, "Local Contexts/Imagined Worlds," looks at "Dependent Development," "Tale of Two Cities," "Changing Places," and "Epilogue: Globalization, Sexuality, and Identity." An appendix provides an excellent list of gay rights and AIDS-service organizations in Brazil. This is a highly recommended book for anyone doing cultural research as it relates to HIV/AIDS. Parker has a unique talent of writing in such a way that you enjoy reading the book, even though it can become quite complicated in its discussion of the various topics. Recommended for all academic libraries.

Keywords: Brazil; Social Aspects; Gay Males)

Copyright (c) 1999 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Book reviews may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, redistribution, or translation, address requests to H. Robert Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680 or electronically to hrm@uic.edu.
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Copyright © 1999 - The University of Illinois at Chicago. All materials in the journal are subject to copyright by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, redistribution, or translation, address requests to H. Robert Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680 or electronically to hrm@uic.edu.

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