ABSTRACT
Cuál es la diferencia entre un mexicano homosexual y uno que no lo es? Dos copas. (Chiste popular)2
A few years prior to the research into male sexual culture in Mexico that is described in this chapter, an architect had mentioned to Miguel González Block that it could be important to carry out a study on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among construction workers since, in his many years of professional experience, he had noticed that building workers sometimes had sexual relationships with each other. Before the widespread emergence of AIDS in Mexico, we decided that it would be worthwhile conducting research on this topic, particularly since some of the key features of sexual culture among construction workers might be relatively widespread among men from the lower social strata more generally. An initial review of officially registered cases of AIDS suggested that while at the time there was a higher reported prevalence of disease among the higher social strata, the epidemic was growing more rapidly among the lower socio-economic groups. Additionally, while the proportion of cases of AIDS ascribed to homosexual activity was higher in the middle and higher strata than in the lower strata, the likely risk of transmission through bisexual activity was greater in the lower strata than in the middle or higher strata. These findings reinforced our decision to carry out exploratory research among construction workers. We were particularly interested in studying men who had sex with other men but who identified themselves as being heterosexual.
