Order and Gender Roles in Colonial Mexico and Today

The juxtaposition of homosexuality in colonial Latin America, specifically Mexico, and today demonstrates how the two societies have not really changed or differed, or that they have only very recently changed. In 1973, homosexuality was no longer considered a mental illness, and only in 2003 were sodomy laws struck down as “unconstitutional.” Yet, social mores still dictate that gays are less than fully equal because of the limitations on institutions like marriage and military service. Now, compare this with the “nefarious sin against nature.” Homosexuals were routinely tortured to procure confessions (because confessions were not considered legitimate otherwise) and sentenced to death (the prescription was fire like Sodom and Gomorrah, who were punished for their despicable sexual acts). The question arises about whether or not this is an evolution of ideas or the descent into moral chaos.

Looking at the case of Cuyne and Quini people can see how there was widespread discrimination and bias against homosexuals by the Holy Mother Church, an institution that normally preaches tolerance and love for others. The men were caught in a sexual act together, which led to interrogation of them. The interrogation led to several different names and eventually six prosecutions. The article “Sodomitical Subculture” by Zeb Tortorici writes about the case in excruciating details, even saying every time the guys ejaculated into the anuses of their sexual mates. However, the more important part is that every time a sexual act was discussed, they said who acted the part of the man and who acted the part of the woman (meaning the “woman” was penetrated by the “man”). This “woman” was punished more severely because they had violated the natural gender roles. Men were not supposed to be dominated, and by doing so they violated nature even more than just having sex with someone of the same sex.

This all comes back to the question about whether or not this is an evolution of ideas or the descent into moral chaos because social order will have been abrogated when men and women no longer fill their proper gender roles. Or this is at least the argument moralists within the Church would use because order must prevail. By allowing men to act as women and women as men the order of society will be undermined and proper social control cannot be implemented. Men and woman should, according to the conservative commentator, be who they are supposed to be. Not ironically, this means the men going to work and “bringing home the bacon,” while the woman cooks, cleans, and tends to the children. Therefore, if order is to prevail, both men and women should re-establish their former roles, or new ones need to be implemented to make sure order is established.