Using Jotería Studies to discuss LGBTI Communities in Panama

• In Event: Cross-Hemispheric LGBTI Activisms: migrations, strategies, and visibilities

Abstract

As part of a large qualitative research, this paper will analyze the personal narratives of self-identified as lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and intersexual (LGBTI) in Panama. This essay will document how issues of internalized and externalized homophobia intersect family/gender binary expectations, religious beliefs, as well as social norms and expectations. Through the use of testimonios as methodology in Latino critical theory (LatCrit) and queers of color (QOC) epistemologies, the author will discuss how the participants’ experiences with issues of heteronormativity (gender binary), religion, society double-standards, school bullying, social media stereotypes, and Panama’s police discriminatory policies shape their everyday lives of LGBTI individuals. The author will document how the participants became resilient and challenged family, religion, and society. Finally, the author will share how for the last 22 years the first LGBTI-led grass-root organization in Central America still advocates and lobbies for human and legal rights of LGBTI communities in the isthmus.

Author

• Juan Ríos Vega