Homo-bisexual trajectories of young Brazilians: the results of a population survey in three Brazilian state capitals

Maria Luiza Heilborn, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Cristiane Cabral, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Based on a survey (Gravad, 2002) conducted among young people aged 18 to 24 years old in three Brazilian cities (n=4634), we analyzed the homo-bisexual trajectories of men and women. This definition was given to those respondents who declared to have engaged at least once in sexual practices with people of the same sex, representing 3,3% of the sample. The percentage found is consistent with data from international surveys, which reveal the degree of visibility of homosexuality in certain socio-historical contexts. An appreciation of the phenomenon of homo-bisexuality based on a probabilistic sample allows access to a more differentiated profile, one rid of the biases derived from the traditional “snow ball” technique. The profile of homo-bisexual women tends to be more differentiated than that of heterosexuals, the former being precocious and less protected. The men present a higher rate of convergence, such as the age of sexual initiation.