Racial Constructions among Men Who Have Sex with Men: The Utility of the Latin Americanization Thesis and Colorblind Racism on Sexual Partner Selection. (original) (raw)

2018, Issues in Race and Society: An Interdisciplinary Global Journal

The manner in which racism and racial construction operate is under-examined in gay communities. This study asses how race and colorblindness influence desire among men who have sex with men (MSM). We expand upon Eduardo Bonilla-Silva's (2002a) Latin Americanization Thesis (LAT) of tri-racial stratification by examing the intersection of race/ethnicity with sexuality. The study is based on sixteen in-depth interviews with MSM of various racial/ethnic groups along the El Paso/Juarez border. Findings suggest that not only does LAT describe a common phenomenon, but it contributes to understanding racial hierarchies of sexual desire. To justify this hierarchy and defend against accusations of sexual racism, white and "honorary" white MSMs use both covert and colorblind racism. In conclusion, we expand upon the LAT of racial construction in the United States by illustrating how sexuality influences the social construction of race, which in turn has implications for mate selection and sexual identity in gay communities.

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