MSM Caribbean Horizon

Welcome to a Voice of MSM
Communities in Belize

Who is the man? Or who is the woman? - May best articulate the heterosexual individual perception of men who have sex with men (MSM) or MSM individuals in Belize. The life of an MSM in Belize is more than just about sex or sexuality. It defined by terms like “girl this and girl that”. It is defined by interests in techno music vs dancehall. It is defined by who works, who pays the bills or divisions in the house chores, mundane stuff. Such mundane activities then reflect itself in definitions of class, ethnicity, educational levels, professional standing, and sexuality. The point is that there is as much diversity in the MSM and gay culture in Belize as there are stereotypes to overcome.

The MSM and gay culture is not like Showtime’s “Queer as Folk” as there are no bathhouses or clubs that directly serves the community. It is a culture kept alive by celebrations of birthdays, New Years, anniversaries and house parties done throughout the country. The population usually organizes itself or keeps in touch by cell phones, e-mails, online chatrooms either with friends from across the country or across the world. It is a culture that is quite alive, yet, invisible to the heterosexual world. Health, though, is an afterthought.

Unfortunate, but true, HIV fears or the lack there of, exist side by side with the desire for companionship and sex in general. While the last situational analysis of the National AIDS Commission documented that of the cumulative cases of HIV/AIDS infections in Belize, 7% are MSM; the effort, to educate the population has barely begun the scratch the surface in HIV education prevention.

The culture of “dry sex” or sex without lubricants and sex with oil base products from my 70 plus interviews in the population demonstrates that HIV education with an MSM focus has barely begun to be conceptualized in Belize. The unique health information that the men who have sex with men need to prevent transmission of HIV is still evolving in the community. A community that is made up of a small transvestite population in the north; closeted individual travels to Chetumal Quintana Roo, Mexico; male sex workers in Belize City, the northern and western part of the country; and as well as professionals with families.

The MSM community and lifestyle continues to grow and evolve in Belize with gay pageants off and on, weekend clubs as hang out spots or a failed one time establishment that had insufficient community support or was badly managed, none could tell the reason.

Progress it is said is usually slow, this is no different when referring to the Political Reform Commission Report in 2000. It mentioned the need to incorporate sexual orientation into the constitution to address concerns about stigma and discrimination. The work, however, is on going through the National Draft HIV/AIDS policy of the National AIDS Commission.

In the end, the question is left open: Is the MSM lifestyle, a lifestyle? Or is it a culture? The questions are meant to stimulate thoughts that are debatable. The final decision is left up to the reader.

TORTA LOCA - Belize
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