LGBTQ literature in Venezuela

LGBTQ literature in Venezuela comprises literary works written by Venezuelan authors that involve plots, themes, or characters that are part of or related to sexual diversity. Historically, Venezuelan literature has had among its central concerns the idea of nation building and violence, both themes approached from a traditionally masculine point of view, so sexuality, and in particular sexual diversity, have received little academic interest as literary subjects.

The first references to homosexuality or homoerotic interactions in Venezuelan literature occurred in the late 19th century, in works such as Débora (1884) by Tomás Michelena, or some novels by Manuel Vicente Romero García, although in these cases they were minor references in a mocking tone. In the first decades of the 20th century, Teresa de la Parra stands out; a lesbian writer who, although she never publicly acknowledged her homosexuality, wrote works in which contemporary scholars have identified feminine homoerotic elements, such as the novel Ifigenia (1924).

During the second half of the 20th century, the figure of Isaac Chocrón emerged, considered a pioneering writer in Venezuelan male homosexual literature, who produced an extensive corpus of works that explored LGBT themes, including the play La revolución (1971). Another work by Chocrón was the novel Pájaro de mar por tierra (1972), which follows the story of a young bisexual man named Miguel who emigrates to New York in the midst of the process of forging his identity, but who after exploring his sexuality ends up returning disappointed to Venezuela.

In both of Chocrón's works from this period as well as in works published by other authors, it was common for LGBT characters to meet tragic ends. Homosexuality was also frequently explored in a negative light, for example in short stories by authors such as Ednodio Quintero, Luis Barrera Linares and Alberto Jiménez Ure. Other Venezuelan authors who emerged during the second half of the 20th century and who wrote from a perspective of sexual diversity include figures such as José Balza, Francisco Rivera, Marco Antonio Ettedgui and Boris Izaguirre.

Unlike male LGBT literature and the production existing in other countries in the region, lesbianism was little explored and studied topic in Venezuelan literature of the 20th century. Except for the homoerotic suggestions in some of Teresa de la Parra's works from the first half of the 20th century, it would take decades before local writers such as Dinapiera Di Donato and Ana Teresa Torres returned to addressing female homosexuality. In 1991, Di Donato published the collection of short stories Noche con nieve y amante, considered the first openly lesbian work written by a Venezuelan woman. Torres, for her part, published La favorita del señor in 2001, a novel in narrative erotica.

Although the arrival of the 21st century brought with it the publication of works with more complex LGBT characters portrayed in less prejudiced societies, negative depictions of homosexuality continued to be common, particularly in short stories. Other authors, such as Gisela Kozak, began to subvert heteronormative conceptions of society much more directly in works such as All the Moons (2011), a novel that depicts a utopian society in which characters can explore their sexuality without fear of prejudice. Other contemporary authors who have repeatedly addressed sexual diversity include Manuel Gerardo Sánchez.