What is the significance of the Monarch butterfly in the memoir, Butterfly Boy?

The Monarch Butterfly, known to have a seasonal migration from Mexico and the U.S., symbolizes the migration of the Mexican farm workers, like Gonzalez's family, who migrate back and forth from Mexico to the U.S. every season.

"Butterfly" also has two meanings in Spanish; the first meaning is the winged insect that probably comes first to mind, but a second meaning in the Spanish culture is also a label for gay men.

The hickey's Gonzalez's lover leaves on his body, which they call butterflies, remind him of his family due to the migration of the Monarch Butterflies and they are part of their relationship because he and his lover are gay. The title of the book, "Butterfly Boy" also carries the same double meaning.