U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

CRIMINOLOGICAL RELEVANCE OF TWO CASES OF MALE HOMOSEXUAL PROSTITUTION ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

NCJ Number
64446
Journal
RASSEGNA DI CRIMINOLOGIA Volume: 6 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (1975) Pages: 235-245
Author(s)
G B TRAVERSO
Date Published
1975
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PROSTITUTION AND DRUG ABUSE, AND BETWEEN BOTH TYPES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AND CRIME, IS EXPLORED AND ILLUSTRATED WITH THE CASE HISTORIES OF TWO YOUNG ADULT MALE HOMOSEXUALS.
Abstract
HOMOSEXUAL PROSTITUTION IS ONLY THE FINAL LINK IN A CAUSE-AND-EFFECT CHAIN OF EVENTS WHICH USUALLY BEGINS IN CHILDHOOD AND EARLY ADOLESCENCE. AT THIS TIME THE BOY, THE PRODUCT OF A BROKEN HOME AND WITH A HISTORY OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION, BECOMES THE OFTEN UNWILLING PARTNER IN A HOMOSEXUAL EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS THAN REPEATED, FROM HABIT AND NECESSITY, UNTIL THE SUBJECT ENTERS THE WORLD OF HOMOSEXUAL PROSTITUTION, DRUG ADDICTION, AND CRIME. REJECTED AND STIGMATIZED BY SOCIETY AT LARGE, THE YOUNG HOMOSEXUAL ACQUIRES A NEGATIVE IDENTITY AND ACCEPTANCE IN A DEVIANT AND CRIMINAL SUBCULTURE WHICH INSPIRES IN HIM FEELINGS OF MIXED GUILT, DEFIANCE, AND SELF-LOATHING. HE SEEKS RELIEF FROM THESE FEELINGS IN DRUGS--FIRST MARIJUANA, THEN AMPHETAMINES, BARBITURATES, AND FINALLY HEROIN. THE DRUG HABIT IS EXPENSIVE AND THE ADDICT NEEDS LARGE SUMS OF MONEY, ACQUIRED BY SELLING HIS SEXUAL FAVORS TO AFFLUENT, OUTWARDLY RESPECTABLE, OLDER MEN WHO, AS HE SOON DISCOVERS, CAN YIELD EVEN MORE MONEY THROUGH BLACKMAIL, EXTORTION, AND MURDER. THE MALE HOMOSEXUAL PROSTITUTES ON WHOSE CASE HISTORIES THIS STUDY IS PARTLY BASED INDICATE THAT THE PHENOMENON OF HOMOSEXUAL PROSTITUTION, DRUG ADDICTION, AND CRIME LINKAGE MUST BE VIEWED IN A LARGER SOCIOECONOMIC CONTEXT TO BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. --IN ITALIAN. (LGR)