Did she suffer discrimination for her sexual option?

Sometimes I want to think that Peru is a wonderful country, and that it is changing from a conservative to an open minded society, with full respect for all the people living and visiting the country. I want to believe that gays and lesbian have the same rights than heterosexuals. Unfortunately, I am wrong. Gays, lesbians, transvestites and bisexuals suffer discrimination everyday and fear living in an homophobic society. Just in my neighborhood, they have closed gay bars and discos for different reasons a few months ago creating a lot of controversy. That don't happen to other bars and discos on the same streets. Do I have an homophobic major? Is it hard to believe?

This week Esther Vargas, a professor at Universidad San Martin de Porres (in Lima), was asked to quit her job 'because parents of the students had complained about her sexual orientation'. She was asked to quit because she was lesbian!!! Instead of fear of an scandal, she made her case public giving a lot of interviews to the press and she was asked to continue doing her work. Still, the university hasn't given a position about the case. Esther fears her contract won't be renewed when it finishes in a few months.

Do you want to know the complete story?

This link takes to the peruvian newspaper El Comercio. I found the story on the online version, but not on the printed version (more discrimination?). Because of that, I prefered to show you some of the interviews Esther gave. Here are some links from YouTube:


Disculpen, soy lesbiana




Esther Vargas: renunciada por lesbiana




Periodista lesbiana Esther Vargas pide rectificación




Alan García habla sobre profesora lesbiana Esther Vargas




Beto Ortiz Parte 1 DISCRIMINACION UNIVERSIDAD

My vacations in Iquitos

Sorry for not posting before, but I had some busy days at work. Very stressing and long days, but now that nightmare is over and I am happy to be back again to let you know about the last weeks.

On Easter I traveled to Iquitos. I was very excited about my trip to that city in the Amazon jungle. I expected something completely different to my normal life, and also being isolated from civilization. I was a bit nervous about the trip because of the heat, bugs, and because I had never been to the jungle. Still, I had very good commentaries from people who traveled there. Just in case, I hired an organized tour and was 2 days in the city, and 2 days in a lodge in the jungle. Now I regret being in the city, since my visit to the lodge/jungle blew my mind: the bio-diversity, the wild vegetation, and the sunset in the Amazon were things I will keep in my heart.

There is gay life in Iquitos, but I didn't go the two discos they told me about. I was really focused on my experience with nature after being trapped in the city for so many months. My only gay experience was to visit my friend R, who was born and lives in Iquitos. I hadn't seen him for about 5 yrs and i was happy to see him again. Too bad we couldn't see more times.

I have to thank my wonderful friend K, because thanks to her, the trip was great and she was open to explore and live each minute as the last during the whole trip.

So, I hope you enjoy some of the pics I am sharing with all of you.

Very intense days

The last weeks have been very intense and interesting, and I like them to be that way. Many stories to share.


At work... we had one of the scheduled 'releases' last Friday. The closer we get to that date, the busier we get. The previous days are usually stressing and long, and nobody likes them. Fortunately all that is over... until May. I like my current job. It is new (I have been here only 2 1/2 months) but it is rewarding in many ways. I still miss a bit my last job, but this one is good too. I specially miss my old friends, people I know for years!!! Here each day I am more confortable, so I honestly don't mind.

Family life is ok as well. One of my cousins living in Argentina came to visit Peru for first time. He is still here with his beautiful Argentinian wife. I have met her in Argentina, but he and his brothers are visiting the country since last year to get in touch with their roots, know the family, visit the country, etc. They love it here. I feel a bit sad I haven't seen them more, but as you know, I have been busy.


I changed my vacations plans. I am not going to Iguazu Falls in Argentina as I have planned. Four days was enough for me, but not for my friend 'K'. She has never been to Argentina so she would prefer to travel there when she has more time. She is right, Argentina is a beautiful country and Buenos Aires a great gay friendly city. We will try going there sometime in the future. Also, the airfares are very expensive this time of year. Ridiculously expensive, twice the average price I paid before. Instead, we are visiting the city of Iquitos, in the amazon jungle of Peru. We love the idea of being surrounded of nature, animals, green color everywhere, 35C, mosquitoes, eat worms (suri), and swimming with piranhas. We just love the idea. Some people love the amazon rain forest, so we were very tempted to go before. We will see. We are going to a very nice hotel (just in case) and we will also spend a couple of days in a lodge in the middle of nowhere. That will be a real test an a great isolation from civilization. I am looking forward to sailing in the Amazon river. Wait for the pics. We are departing next Wednesday. One day after my birthday.

On my free time (if there was) I have been trying to relax. Movies and theater plays worked well. Very interesting stuff. A bit disappointed of an Oscar Wilde play, but still good enough. Three men kept me busy, but nothing memorable. That's a shame. A married man, who i know for years. A peruvian guy living on my same street, but who was only visiting his relatives. He is gone already. And a nice latin guy who was visiting town on business. We were 'neighbors' too, and we had a great couple of days together. I might see him again next month, but until then, I am on the same place where I was.

I miss a lot 'S', and things would be very different with him around. I constantly dream about me visiting him, or he visiting here. All kind of ideas went to my head, just to see him. Every idea more crazy than the last one: quit job and visit him, look for a university in his country to get a master's degree, get married (it is legal in his country), etc. He also considered some crazy ideas: taking more vacation time, get a sabbatical year and live in Peru, enroll a university in Peru, research in Peru, etc. We haven't discuss those ideas in detail, and I think I don't want to yet. I like the idea of getting to know him better. I wonder if he is having fun in the way or not. At least I am having sex, but nothing memorable. Does it count? He is not a saint and I am not either. But we would like to rescue each other from being single. At least, I would like to visit him next year and make our world smaller.

Plans for the following days: see my brother in participating in an sport event, tomorrow a few drinks with friends on a birthday celebration, attending an sport event south of Lima (a rally), a family gathering/dinner, my birthday, and my trip.

Isn't this enough????

Last weekend's adventures

I went to a bar called La Noche, located in Barranco, where they were celebrating the first aniversary of the blog called La Habitación de Henry Spencer. There were some good electro-pop bands and other interesting things. I had a good time as well as good drinks.

Las amigas de nadie


Cachete brother


Pestaña


As usual, i also went out to ride my bicycle in Miraflores and Barranco. I like it when it is sunny.


It is very difficult to ride and tape!!!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day. I hope you had a nice day with your friends and loved ones!!! I had a good day at the office, a nice lunch with friends, and a terrible night after work (I went to buy a ticket for Bryan Adams' concert, but that is another story).


I have mixed feelings about Valentine's Day. It is great to have a day to remember friends and our lovers, but our actions should be the same each day. I also consider that Valentine's Day should be focused more on friendships instead of lovers. After all, a relationship is built over a friendship, don't you think? A partner should be our best friend and someone we truly trust. Finally, I think this world celebration had become to focused on the money, gifts, events, etc instead of the true feelings.

On the gay world, a Valentine's Day is not as different as on the straight world. Guys also expect a little bit of attention from their friends and lover. We also go out to have dinner, we also go out dancing. Shows at gay bars and discos are also fun and a great option to celebrate an important day.

There was a political event, as each year, on 'Parque del Amor' located in Miraflores, Lima. Gay, Lesbian and Transgender couples gather in the street, in front of everyone, and kiss. Just that, they kiss and show that love exists for everyone. Under the title 'Love does not discriminate', they celebrate and call attention to politicians so they change our current laws to make Peru a better place to live for gays, lesbian and transgender. I really wanted to go and take some pictures for you to see, but you already know I was busy. A real shame.

It was my first Valentine's Day being single after a few years. As a coincidence, I always had a partner. It felt a bit strange, but I didn't feel lonely. My friend's company filled me for the day. Still, I sent a nice short message to my ex boyfriend, 'A', because he was and is still a good friend.

I thought about meeting with two friends (Ra and L), also singles, but that didn't happen because one had a date which finished late, and I came back home TOO late. I was very tired. A friend of mine came to visit me at 11pm!!! I was very tired, but we had a nice chat. It was nice to see him.

My plans for the weekend? A busy one and I like that. R wanted to go out for some drinks. On saturday I am going to visit my parents. I haven't seen them in two weeks because S kept me very busy and alcoholized, hahaha. On Saturday night I would like to either to a bar or disco with my friends. On sunday, as usual, I would like to go out and ride my bike and just relax from my crazy weekend. I wonder: when am I using the free ticket for the movies I won? when I am watching the play 'El retrato de Dorian Gray'??? Next week might be as interesting as this coming weekend.

A trip finished, a friendship have begun

I had a very good week in terms of friendship, free time, touring around, etc, etc, etc. I wish this happen more often. My friend 'S' was back from his trip around Peru and we spent together a lot of time. Let me show you how fun it was.

Last week, I was working full time as usual, but after working hours I would run to my apartment to find 'S' ready to go out and enjoy the evening. It is very pleasant to go out these days because we are on summer and it is always perfect for a good coffee or dinning out watching the sunset. It was the perfect moment to sit and talk just about anything. We also went to watch a very recommended movie (Love in the time of cholera, which I didn't like much) and also went to a very fine restaurant called La Rosa Náutica (very recommended). So all those seem like perfect dates and I really enjoyed them. Unlike the first time, 'S' was not so interested in bars, museums, touring Lima, etc. He just wanted to have good food and have quiet times in my neighbourhood. That was fine with me. Anyway, he had great times and busy days in the cities of Cusco, Puno and Arequipa. Not to mention he cried when he arrived to Macchu Picchu. During those resting days we also went walking from Miraflores to Barranco district and next day all along Miraflores shoreline. At nights, back home, we would have a few drinks (rum or wine always) and those great evenings would finish at very early hours of the next day, with the sun rising up. We couldn't help it. When he left yesterday night we were both sad, and I felt my small appartment bigger than ever. I was sad to see him leave, but I was happier to have spent some days together. Now we will see who is visiting the other first. On my side, on year 2009 I plan to do it. He might visit again before.

Today, I was thinking about many things and had some questions as well:
- I was thinking about the value of frienships
- when love arrives, it is always unexpected. So, it is also very important to recognize it
- I thought that friends have been around me always when I need it
- I was thinking that relationships are very fragile, but friendship are strong and survives it all
- With a foreign friend, I re-discovered how beautiful is my city
- I remembered how good it feels to have someone waiting for you at home, everyday

So, to finish this story, I just wanted to share with you that I met someone I really like. I knew the time was not for us at this moment so I decided to move things to the friendship side. That was better but not easy since I have to block some feelings. Still, I shared good intimate moments with 'S' and I treasure them and will keep them in my heart. What will happen now? That we don't know. Only that we are visiting each other soon. Only time will tell us if then it will be our moment to stay together.

I need vacations too

'S' is on his last day visiting the city of Cusco, and I am envious!!! Cusco is my favourite city in the world (so far). I have been there a couple of times and have great memories from those trips: the great Sacred Valley and its ruins (Pisaq, Ollantaytambo and Chincheros), my first visit to Macchu Picchu ruins, the 4 days Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, etc. The city itself is wonderful and full of culture and history. People from all over the world gather there making it the most cosmopolitan city in Peru, but still having its own unique colour and personality. In the last years I have been traveling to other countries, but I would come back to Cusco again and again and again. I would recommend you this place for your next vacations. Think about it. After almost a week in Cusco, S will head to Puno to see Titicaca Lake. After that... I really don't know. He might go to Arequipa or he might return to Lima. I think he will be back in Lima sometime next weekend. I am looking forward to seeing him again.

I am considering going on vacations to Argentina in March, for only 4 days. This would be the 3rd time I go there. Since I don't have much time, I would narrow my visit to Iguazú Falls only and a weekend in BsAs. My travel partner would be 'K', a lesbian friend that I know since my university years. We have a friendship for about 10 years. I have done some research already, I am ready to book flights, but I am having trouble to find a place to stay while in Iguazú. I am starting to get concerned. It seems that week ('Holy Week', in March) many people travel.

Traveling has also been an interesting experience to see gay life in other places. There is lots to learn since I live in a conservative society. Traveling helped me not only to learn about other cultures, but to feel confortable with myself. Argentina is special because it is one of the 2 countries in south america where same sex couples can get married. I think it is only possible in the city of Buenos Aires (capital) but it is a beginning. I wonder if that would be possible in Perú in some years.

In other topics... my plans for the weekend? I am visiting my parents today for lunch (as most saturdays), then I am going to some bars tonight to have a couple of drinks with friends. Tomorrow i will ride my bicycle and enjoy a ride along the shoreline on a sunny summer morning, and then i will just relax the end of the day. Does it sound interesting?