Sexual-risk and the objectification of Latino men in the gay community: Qualitative findings and implications for public health practice

Introduction: Latino gay men possess distinctive cross-cultural identities forged from norms and values associated with both gay and Latino communities. Studies show that Latino gay men bear a disproportionate burden of the domestic HIV epidemic, and are often placed in unique socio-sexual situations that can increase their sexual-risk. We aimed to identify underlying sociocultural influences that may contribute to known sexual-risk factors among the population.

Methods: Using purposeful sampling we recruited 41 self-identified Latino gay men (ages 21–45; mean = 32.5 years) who could articulate their perceptions of gay community and Latino identity, their personal partner selection process, their perception of sexual desirability, and their experiences with inconsistent condom use. We conducted 2-hour in-depth interviews, and performed thematic analysis of transcripts utilizing a constructed grounded theory approach.

Results: Objectification emerged as the most salient theme and influenced known sexual-risk factors by: contributing to feelings of loneliness; decreasing self-worth and self-esteem; lowering self-efficacy to use condoms consistently; and increasing internalized oppressions, like racism and homophobia. Participants believed that eroticization and sensualization of Latinos within the gay community contributed to an accepted communal tolerance of objectification; which, beyond notions of sexual preferences, reduced men from being someone who is desired to something that is desired.

Conclusions: Our findings expand on prevailing sexual-risk theories by contextualizing risk within cultural and social norms of a specific community. Recommendations for public health professionals are provided, and note that the development of ecological-level interventions, that reduce stigma and microaggressions while increasing community visibility and engagement, are warranted for this marginalized population.