New Books in LGBTQ+ Studies

Edgar Gomez, "High-Risk Homosexual: A Memoir" (Soft Skull, 2022)

May 3, 2023

Edgar Gomez, author of 'High-Risk Homosexual,' discusses machismo, cockfighting, Pulse nightclub shooting, bilingualism in literature, and the 'messiness' of latinidad. His memoir is praised and recognized for its authenticity and impact. Gomez reflects on challenging societal norms, navigating queer healthcare and trauma, processing grief, and preserving bilingualism in storytelling.

42:50

Episode guests

Edgar Gomez

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Embracing emotional vulnerability challenges machismo norms within Latinx culture, highlighting the journey to self-acceptance and authentic masculinity.

Incorporating Spanglish and Spanish in storytelling authentically represents the Latinx experience, emphasizing bilingual communication and cultural richness.

Deep dives

Exploring Identity and Queerness Through Memoir Writing

Edgar Gomez, a writer of Nicaraguan and Puerto Rican descent, discusses the inspiration behind his memoir 'High Risk Homosexual.' Delving into the journey of storytelling from TV production to prose, Gomez highlights the importance of sharing queer stories. By unlearning machismo cultural norms, he emphasizes the gradual process of self-acceptance and emotional expression, demonstrating the significance of embracing one's true identity.

Introduction

2min

Exploring the Memoir and Diverse Identity of a Lambda Literary Award Finalist

2min

Navigating Identity and Acceptance: A Journey Through Queer Latinx Narratives

15min

Navigating Queer Healthcare Experiences and Trauma Reflections

5min

Navigating Grief and Cultural Norms

12min

Navigating Latinidad and Identity in Memoir Writing

5min

Writing Latinos, from Public Books, is a new podcast featuring interviews with Latino (a/x/e) authors discussing their books and how their writing contributes to the ever-changing conversation about the meanings of latinidad.

For this episode, we caught up with Edgar Gomez on his memoir High-Risk Homosexual (Soft Skull, 2022). The conversation with Gomez was one of our most wide-ranging, flowing, and honest yet. We talk about machismo, cockfighting, reconciling with parents, the Pulse nightclub shooting, bilingualism in contemporary literature, and the “messiness” of latinidad.

The New York Times called High-Risk Homosexual “a breath of fresh air.” The book is a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Memoir/Biography; an Honor Book for the 2023 Stonewall Book Award-Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award; and was named a Best Book of the Year by BuzzFeed, Electric Literature, and Publishers Weekly. Born in Florida but with roots in Nicaragua and Puerto Rico, Gomez received an MFA from the University of California, Riverside.

Geraldo L. Cadava is a historian of the United States and Latin America. He focuses on Latinos in the United States and the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. He hosts the podcast "Writing Latinos."

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