How to understand the voluntary acceptation, and even the active pursuit, of so despised an identity as that of homosexual transvestite in such a macho country as Mexico. Based on a sun ey of a group of homosexual transvestites in one of Mexico City's popular quarters, the present article analyses the way some young boys come to identify themselves as practicing homosexuals and to adopt a female appearance - two phenomena which in this case are intrinsically linked. In order to understand this evolution, responsibility needs to be meeted out among 1) biological or psychological factors, 2) early sexual experiences, 3) social labeling and 4) learning. The author uses this particular case to review the different theories on the origin of sexual orientation. The vast majority of transvestites are persuaded they are born homosexual and effeminate. They may have many reasons for wanting to interpret themselves in these basic terms, but the fact remains that it seems impossible to understand their trajectories from external, social factors alone - especially considering the social pressure put on them to obtain the opposite result, to bring them back to normalcy. On the other hand, it seems impossible to explain the extent of male bisexuality in Mexico by internal factors; in the present case, social cataloging and labeling seem to be decisive.
