Coming Out Collectively: The Emotions of Latin-American Homosexual Liberation Movements

Abstract In the article I study the emotions involved in the emergence of the homosexual liberation movement in Latin America. Marked by the radical ideas that came out of the sixties many queer organizations bowed to create a sexual revolution inside the social revolution. Because it was the first-time homosexuality came out to the public in the Latin America, at the same time in different countries, a sort of emotional community was formed. This happened thanks to the radical queer intellectual network that was formed after the Stonewall riots connecting the Americas with Europe. By sharing experiences and ideas I will argue that the Latin American homosexual liberation organizations also shared the process of what I have called coming out collectively, where things leaving shame and sadness, overcoming fear with courage, and building pride or anger were fundamental in the early years of the movement.