Carlos E. Rodriguez-Diaz, MPH¹, Lydia Santiago, PhD¹, Maria del Carmen Santos-Ortiz, PhD¹, Gerardo A. Flores-Garcia, JD, LLM¹, and Yamir Salabarría-Peña, MPH, DrPH². (1) Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, 787-758-2525 Ext. 1417, cerodriguez@stu.rcm.upr.edu, (2) Health Services Research and Evaluation Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-80, Atlanta, GA 30333

The Article 103 of the Puerto Rican’s Penal Code, which includes a sodomy law, is analyzed to identify implications for the health promotion in GLBT communities. Implications of the criminalization of some sexual activities are also acknowledged. The discourse analysis, a qualitative methodology, is used in this study and is applied to the public health education and health promotion field. It provides a research space to study the ways in which the language is used as a main component of social action within the meanings and representations that constitute culture. The laws are instruments of the State to transmit and validate ideologies. The language and it usage in the sodomy law discourse is analyzed to identify myths, ideologies and metaphors. To consider the limitations presented by the legal discourse correspond to the analysis and evaluation of public policies as determinants of health. After more than 50 years of having a sodomy law in Puerto Rico, it analysis is compared with parallel discourses such as the religious discourse. Implications for public health professionals are discussed in order to better understand how the existence of such derogated laws can negatively overturn our present work. Specific social and historic elements are identified as part of its repercussion in the sexual health promotion and health education strategies to be specially considered when working with GLBT communities.

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