Latin American queer cinema
Queer individuals' contradiction of the heterosexual norm significantly impacts the machismo ideals within the Latin American culture, where men are expected to be strong and dominant. This strongly male-dominated culture is cinematographically afraid of a male that contradicts the traditional ideal, leading to a lack of exposure for the transgender male within Latin American queer cinema. While many have attempted to bring the Latino transgender man into queer cinema, such as in Arturo Ripstein’s El Lugar sin limites (1978), the man is seldom portrayed in a positive light. In queer Latin American cinema, the body is often seen as a tool above all else. The body is a tool that is used in order to attain satisfaction above all other things. There is also a normative ideal in Latin American cinema that it is acceptable for women to sleep in the same bed together, situation such as those do not automatically place a movie within the realm of queer cinema. It is not a social norm, however, for two men to share a bed. Two men sharing a bed within Latin American cinema, even if those men are young, is often used as an indication of queer acts that are not explicitly shown.
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Examples
La Mission (2009) Che Rivera (Benjamin Bratt) is a newly released prisoner. He has grown up living in the Mission District being a tough guy by embracing his masculinity. Being a recovering alcoholic, he tries to maintain his rolemodel status within the barrio where everyone knows him and for his son Jesse “Jes” Rivera (Jeremy Ray Valdez), who he has raised by himself since the death of his wife. Che thought that he brought up his son right by encouraging him to be a better person than Che. However, dynamics change when he finds out that his son is gay. He does not accept it and ends up kicking Jes out of the house. For Che, being gay is losing your machismo within the community and you are viewed as weak. But if he wants to be a part of his son’s life, he has to engage into an emotional side of himself that he is not familiar with.
Quinceañera (2006) This movie follows two teens who have to overcome the traditionalist ideals of a Mexican, religious family. Magdalena (Emily Rios), a 14-year-old girl brought up by a religious family, is excited to have her quinceañera, a rite of passage ceremony that represents the transformation of a teenage girl into a woman. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she finds out that she is pregnant. Because of her father’s religious, traditional values, she is kicked out of her home and moves in with her Great Uncle Tomas (Chalo González) and her cousin Carlos (Jesse Garcia), who is a troubled teen who was kicked out of his family because of his "homosexuality". In the eyes of their families, they have disgrace and disrespected them. Magdalena has to grow up as she is forced into the real world and Carlos tries to come to terms with his sexual orientation has he interacts with his Great Uncle’s landlords. In the end, they both finally receive the love and support they needed, from each other.
Gun Hill Road (2011) An ex-con returns home to the Bronx after three years in prison to discover his wife estranged and his teenage son exploring a sexual transformation that will put the fragile bonds of their family to the test. Features Harmony Santana, a transgender woman.
Mosquita y Mari (2012) Directed by Aurora Guerrero. Synopsis: In a fast-paced immigrant community where dreams are often lost to economic survival, two young Chicanas contemplate life when they stir unexpected desires in each other.