The members of the armed forces should be conducted with a rigid code of behavior. Among the pillars of hegemonic masculinity is, ie what is socially desirable to any man. When this virility is in question, either by behaviors considered feminine or homosexual orientation through the open some of its members, the gear is activated to protect the integrity of masculinity

. "Did you hear? He said it's fucking! You are witnesses! Encañónenlo "with surprise and fear complied. The silence was tense. The sun beat down in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, but the sweat dampened the faces of the soldiers was cold, as if he had taken a bucket of ice water. They tried to hide his nervousness and inexperience. I always imagined they would use their weapon against drug traffickers and not against themselves.

Days earlier, Julian de la Toba had received the first signal. With jokes and pleasantries of his platoon sergeant told him he wanted to catch. The Russian, nicknamed Julian as being white and blond, had entered three years before the Mexican Army. Never hid his homosexuality.

Listening to him, a wry smile came over the face of Russian. Immediately, the sergeant, who had some reputation as a "mayate," another man who enters into a sexual relationship, was irascible. Increased voice and reproached him for his refusal he knew that everyone "had already taken." Julian denied it. From that moment "heavy hand". The fascines were intensified and would not let him rest.

Wash your camisole without authorization was a pretext to arrest him. The tones of voice rose. "Are you homosexual?" He said. "Yes, but I will not take," he answered before you have several guns pointed at him. The soldier asked to be broadcast by Julian. Someone across the radio asked the sergeant that he "fell out of balls."

Time after change of command. At the Russian never apologized but demanded that transcend the event. Now, Julian thinks the fledgling human rights discourse on that occasion saved him.

For the Mexican Army's entry elements as The Russian, openly gay, breaks military identity supported by hegemonic masculinity, ie the promotion of values ​​or ideas about how to be men: strong, straight, strong pain, obedient, disciplined, homophobic and repressive of emotions.

This represents the uniform. Homoerotic desire within an institution as masculine as the Army is a reality that refuses to come out. John, one of the military discharged to be HIV positive, Gynexin Scam realizes what is happening in this regard: "They were to say after the soldier or the soldier with the rope, then as I say that here everything is known , as word spreads, and there was to be poured after all, and when that happened the Army was unworthy to be low. It was an honor board, or personnel forms, put them in front and at the end made them to take off the uniform. "

For psychologists Amuchástegui Ana and Rodrigo Parrini, authors of the test subject, sexuality and biopower: the defense of the military living with HIV and sexual rights in Mexico, published in the journal Sociological Studies (2009), from which the above quote, homosexual desire within the armed forces mess and encourages the breakdown of hierarchies. Researchers at the UAM Xochimilco even argue that the underlying reason for dismissal from the military with HIV is prejudice against homosexuality: "The problem is the transgression of silence that HIV supposedly represents." Here the stigma that inevitably link the virus with homosexuality and the latter as an attack on masculinity operates as a device to discipline male bodies.

In the words of Donato, another soldier discharged for the same reason: "They believe that homosexuality should not be accompanying the man, then man must be strong, rough, to be grotesque, and whether they represent the image and is a male person who is attacking the masculinity, it should be removed because it is spoiling the image they have. The consequence is that the homosexual should leave the military, because it goes against what the uniform represents. " (From the same source cited).'s Manhood with violence education. Elias Flores is a young soldier of 24 years from the state of Veracruz. The history of characters like Pedro Calderon de la Barca and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who were military as well as writers, motivated him to join the Army. He also likes to write and dreamed of being a child soldier.

In the schools and military units never need an excuse to "achicalar" someone. In Elijah played "table" for not bringing his boots clean enough. "Put yourself in position with mortar-tipped buttocks to front-to receive at least 10 shoals, if you cry or complain you get another 10".

After broadcasting the Letter S ensures that the only requirement for those who will "achicalar" is to be of a grade higher than "achicalado". If not, "can assemble putazos" he warns. "If you take you give more, and if you go in carcase-charge to a superior, 'you do worse. "Achicalar" is something that is celebrated and shared. Usually welcome you get and who never misses one. It is an act that everyone enjoys except punished. We welcome the opportunity and took advantage putearlo if we do not like. " Fully convinced, Elias asserts that the identity and hold military exercise involving violence with impunity and complicity.

According to Juan Guillermo Figueroa Perea, a researcher at El Colegio de Mexico (Colmex), hegemonic masculinity is a cultural construct that dictates the behavior socially acceptable for men based on the exercise of dominion through violence. In "Elements for the study of sexuality and health of men members of the armed forces," the academic stresses that the dominant male model includes, as a first feature, heterosexuality and an "active denial" of homosexuality to be associated with female behavior and thus "to a socially recognized as less valuable."

He adds that in a society like Mexico, children learn to reject practices affection, eroticism and closeness with other men, and to use the term "homosexual" as a sample of male handicap.