Detox Pool Party and the commodification of desire: Exclusion and body representation in the gay community of Lima

Abstract

This article analyzes the commodification of desire and pleasure in recreational spaces aimed at the gay community in Lima, focusing on the case of the “Detox Pool Party” event. It argues that these spaces, marked by hypersexualization —that is, the centrality of the body as an object of desire and consumption— reproduce dynamics of exclusion. Through interviews, and visual analysis, the study shows how norms around body aesthetics, behavior, and purchasing power are imposed, conditioning participation. This dynamic constructs an aesthetic of exclusivity that renders non-normative identities invisible. The paper suggests that neoliberal inclusion turns difference into market niches without eliminating structural inequalities. It contributes to ongoing debates on consumption, sexual diversity, and capitalism in Latin America by showing how well-being, desire, and belonging are transformed into consumer products that reinforce social hierarchies within the community itself.