Gender identification issues in the late 70s in Latin America.
Published in hard copy in 1985 as "Machito," in Spanish. The main character is Dr. Suárez, the teenage male prostitute's therapist, who has to contend with his own vision about sexual orientation and the "official" stance in Panama at the time. The short novel offers a real look at the choices that were made by many youngsters while discovering their sexual orientation.
Excerpt
INTERMISSION
It had been a very hectic morning... So many patients and it was barely ten o’clock.
There was no intercom and he couldn’t but yell:
“Digna!" - "Jesus, every day I shout louder"- Dr. Suarez said to himself. "Send the next one in."
Suarez was working with a psychiatric resident, who laughed at the lack of efficient communication with the personnel seated in an aisle outside the office. And amidst the turmoil Machito made his entrance.
Laughter became seriousness while the lad sat himself facing them. As Suarez always initiated the interviews he asked what brought him to the clinic.
"First" - he answered while looking at him straight into his eyes - 'you' know why I'm here. And, second - while looking at Dr. Ruiz, the resident - what's she doing here? Juan told me that 'you' were the one working with people like me."
Machito was a teenager- child of around sixteen; "jot down seventeen." He was somewhat tall, 1'75, lean but not skinny, donning a natural well tanned complexion. But what stood out were his eyes: Dr. Suarez recalled his son, who was about the boy's same age. His eye lashes almost touched the lower part of his eyebrows. Eyes more on the small side, which made his lashes more prominent… His hair, very thick and straight but not long... In other words: a pretty boy.
Professional Reviews
Susan Wells Bennett
I read this short story/novella in one sitting. While I have to say that the translation could use a little refining, it is an excellent snapshot of homosexuality at a time when psychology considered it a disease. The story of both the doctor's and the patient's struggle with Machito's sexuality is poignant and believable. In a lot of ways, this reads like a case study -- which, I suppose, it is. Well worth my time, both as a reader and a writer.
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