Homosexuality Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Homosexuality, including details on causes, biology, signs, statistics, trends.

Cultural universals and differences in male homosexuality: the case of a Brazilian fishing village.

Cardoso FL

Centro de Educação Física, Fisioterapie e Desportos, Departamento de Ginástica, Recreação e Rítmica, Santa Catarina State University, Santa Catarina, Brazil. d2flc@udesc.br

This study investigated whether homosexually identified males in a small Brazilian fishing community are similar to homosexually identified males described in the international literature. In addition, it attempted to distinguish heterosexuals who have sex with homosexuals from other heterosexuals. A total of 41 men were classified into three sexual categories: paneleiros ("pan cabinets"), who have sex only with men, and invariably so in a bottom position; persistent heterosexuals, who have sex only with women; and paneleiro lovers, who have sex with women and with paneleiros, but invariably in a top position. There were significant differences in childhood play activities, sexual inclinations, and sports preferences between paneleiros and non-paneleiros; however, paneleiro lovers and persistent heterosexuals were not significantly different with regard to these variables or with regard to access to women. These findings add to the cross-cultural literature on childhood cross-gender behavior and homoerotic activities among non-homosexually identified males.

Published 17 March 2005 in Arch Sex Behav, 34(1): 103-9.
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