A Youth Leader's Guide to Building Cultural Competence 

alcohol or drugs. Third, if a Latino man takes the role 

of receiving another man's penis in his mouth or anus, 

Safer sex practices require that partners 

he is seen as the passive, female partner. The man who 

talk to each other about their sexual 

took the active role of inserting his penis is culturally 

histories, condom use and sexual acts. 

understood to be a heterosexual man; it is only the 

passive partner who is negatively labeled as gay.

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Anal Intercourse 

The recipient of anal intercourse is most at risk for HIV infection. Anecdotal evidence from urban areas 

suggests that anal intercourse is practiced by heterosexual young people as a form of birth control. For 

some young, unmarried Latino couples, it is used as a way to protect against the loss of female virginity.  

Talking About Sex  

Safer sex practices require that partners talk to each other about their sexual histories, condom use and 

sexual acts. These conversations and topics are not easy for anyone, but the general Latino/Latina 

population in the U.S. has been described by many as sexually conservative. Direct sexual talk in public 

and private is still basically unacceptable among Latinos/Latinas and health educators may startle and 

offend their audience by talking about taboo sexual subjects.

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