Sodomy in the Indies. Homoeroticism in Ibero-America during the colonial period

“Sodomy in the Indies” is a historical study that delves into the expression of homoeroticism in Ibero-America during the colonial era. It contrasts the fluid, diverse sexual systems of indigenous cultures with the rigid, binary framework imposed by European colonial powers. The book shows how behaviors labeled as “sodomy” were criminalized and repressed as both sin and crime, serving as tools to consolidate power between the church and state. Through an analysis of court records, chroniclers’ accounts, and various historical documents, the work reveals the clandestine spaces and practices—ranging from private gatherings to semi-public locales—where homoeroticism thrived despite severe censorship and persecution. Grounded in theoretical perspectives from Michel Foucault and queer theory, it reinterprets these historical episodes to recover the voices and identities of those marginalized by dominant sexual norms.

Dr. Jorge F. Vidovic
Director Fundación Ediciones Clío
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8148-4403