UNESCO publishes ethnographic study on male to male sexuality in Lao PDR

BANGKOK, 9 January 2009 - UNESCO this week released the first-ever ethnographic study on male to male sexuality in Lao PDR. The study was conducted by Chris Lyttleton of Macquarie University in Australia and a team of Lao peer researchers. It sheds light on the context in which male to male sex takes place in Lao PDR and enhances our understanding of the way Laotian MSM view themselves, their lovers and their lives. It is hoped that this will provide information to make HIV prevention, care and support interventions for this group more appropriate, authentic and effective.

The study uncovered a fluid perception of male to male sexuality; it appeared hard for people to put 'identity labels' onto themselves. The study proposes a continuum based on self-perception as male or female, preferred sexual behavior and the degree to which people appear masculine or effeminate in public. In general, it appears that sex between men is not seen as a big deal for many young men; often it is seen as a playful and pleasurable passtime. Many men tell of their first sexual experiences, often with kathoey (transgendered / effeminate) men in their home villages. There was variety here, however, with the more remote provinces seeing no or fewer kathoey in villages than provinces closer linked to Thailand.

The study also pays attention to the rapid changes in Lao society and the increased visibility of homosexuality in society, partly caused by increased interactions with the outside world. It focuses on the issue of stigma and discrimination (which many men say is rapidly decreasing), helping more men to disclose their preferences. Ideas about homosexuality and related identities are also rapidly changing in Lao PDR - under influence of Thai and other foreign media, but also pornography and Western television series.

Sexual encounters are influenced by several factors, the most important being age, economics and also issues related to work place / location / situation. The study discusses in-depth issues surrounding sexual attraction and desire, gender and gender reversal, the pleasure in finding many (more) partners but also incidents of sexual coercion, exploitation and rape that occurred in the lives of the men interviewed. A very interesting finding is the way semen is seen as a precious 'commodity' and a source of masculine strength. This is at the basis of some men's fear to masturbate or have sex too often, especially with kathoey; one interviewee remarked that 'sex with a kathoey once is as tiring as sex three times with a women, they suck all the juices.'  

The final chapter deals with HIV and sexual risk, noting that condom use is low, partner change is high and, hence, the risk for HIV and STIs was high too. Several cultural and psychological factors associated with low condom use and high partner change are discussed in the study.

This is the second ethnographic study on male to male sexuality that UNESCO Bangkok has commissioned (a previous study was done in Cambodia). This study is very rich in detail and manages to put a truly 'human face' on the clinical term 'Men who have Sex with Men'. The study should be compulsory reading material for those working with / for MSM in Lao and in surrounding countries. As is often the case in these studies, the really exciting stuff is in the annexes - so don't forget to check these out. 

UNESCO aims to conduct similar research in other countries in the region during 2009 and 2010, in efforts to make HIV prevention more relevant to the sexual cultures of people at which interventions are directed.

The PDF file can be downloaded from  http://www2.unescobkk.org/hivaids/fulltextdb/aspUploadFiles/msm.pdf  A limited number of hard copies is available from UNESCO Bangkok. Please contact Ngo Than Loan (nt.loan[at]unescobkk.org) for more information. 
 
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Mr Jan W de Lind van Wijngaarden
Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor
UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education
920 Sukhumvit Road (corner with Soi 40)
Bangkok 10110
E-mail: j.wijngaarden[at]unescobkk.org or jwdlvw[at]gmail.com
Phone: +66-23910577 ext 113