Latinx- the gender-neutral alternative to Latino, Latina and Latin@.

This word has become popular all over the Internet and it challenges the typical tradition of the Spanish language being dominated by gender. This lead me to interview several people of Latin/Hispanic descent and ask them their views on it and they for sure had different opinions on it.

Take Carlos, for instance. He is currently a freshman in college and is of Puerto Rican descent. He believes that "Latinx" is "just fine because it includes those members of the community who may not identify as a male or female and therefore wouldn't have to feel uncomfortable identifying as Latino or Latina". However, Carlos went on to say that he thinks the word shouldn't be used while someone is speaking Spanish, due to the fact that the word "doesn't exist In the language and as a whole it's a language with many rules". I quoted Carlos as saying "Although I do believe that we should either find a new word that fits within the parameters of the Spanish language, but, if not, we should certainly adopt Latinx into our vocabulary."

Carlos is one of thirteen people I interviewed for this article about Latinx and he is not the only one who agrees with the term being used. Mikey, who is Colombian and Latin, identifies as Latinx and says that the term is great, because it’s for “non-binary people”, and that it is fair and equal. When referring to non-binary people, it should be used out of respect and that he hopes the word will be used in the Spanish Language.

Even though older people in the Latino community are judge-mental and ignorant towards the word, some are willing to be educated on it and Celeste agrees that it could be used in Spanish dialect, but she also doubts that the older generation will use the term because of how the older generation is “stubborn about things being the same way forever, as a sort of tradition/culture.”

“I have heard of the term. The first time I saw it was on Tumblr,” says Jacqueline Ansa. “I identify as Puerto Rican, Taino, Spanish, or jokingly as New Yorican. My father was born in Caguas, PR and lived in Gurabo, but his lineage is from Spain. My paternal great grandfather moved to PR from Spain. My mother is from Manati, but her lineage is of Taino descent. My great grandmother was one of the last Tainos in my family.”

“I think it's interesting that people are tying their ethnic identity with their gender in that way. Personally, I don't have a problem being referred to as Latino or Latina, but I also have the privilege of being cisgendered. I'm not sure if the term Latino would bother me more then, but I do understand why people prefer Latinx. So much of Latino culture is based around gender roles that it even trickles into the language itself."

“If it does take off I think it will be due to this newer generation coming up that is more socially conscious and accepting. Do I think the older generation will pick it up as well? No way in hell, lol. Latino culture is so focused with preservation of tradition and conservative values. If I had to guess, I think that's due to the heavy religious influence as well as historical tragedy. When the Europeans came over, they stripped the native people of their culture, their heritage, their livelihood, forced them to convert to Christianity, as well as slaughtered and raped millions. It's no wonder why we hold our traditions so sacred. I think the term Latinx is a great way to reclaim our heritage and unite us all as one. We don't need to focus on cultural differences, we're all this together. Some could argue that marginalizes everyone, but I think it's nice. I like that the term acknowledges the LGBTQ+ community that so often gets bashed and ignored in traditional Latino culture. I think that kind of change is something we really need right now.”

“ I am Venezuelan & Portuguese. Mother is Portuguese and Father is Venezuelan. I believe the term is a good way to avoid misgendering anybody and I do believe we should use it more instead of the traditional "latino" "latina". It will take a bit to really get everybody to start using the term, but with making the younger generation more accustomed to using the term we can eventually have everyone using it. Says Vanessa. While Vanessa, Mikey, Carlos, and Jacqueline do agree and are okay with the term, there are those who think otherwise.

Julia, whose is of Dominican descent, has heard of the term before and when asked if the term should be used more, her response,
“No I don't, I just think it's a stupid idea.“To me it doesn't make sense the need for such a word.” When the question of Hispanic elders considering to use the term, Julia simply stated that she didn’t think it would be a possibility.

“No I don't think so. Hispanic elders are very conservative in their ideas and will most likely deny all type of thinking related to this term. Not that I blame I personally think this idea is stupid because having term that describes that describes that you are not heterosexual will not make you exempt from discrimination, on the contrary, it will make them be more discriminated because people now know this about you.It will just put you in the spot, and give you the attention you don't need. But then again this is just my opinion.”

While Julia is against the idea of Latinx completely, Milagros sees differently.
Milagros, who identifies as a Chicana, which she says “is a term that embodies most of our culture.”
“Chicanos are known for embracing their American citizenship while still remaining pride in their Mexican ancestral roots.
“I have indeed heard the term Latinxs. Although the purpose behind it is thoughtful and admirable as it thrives to break the gender barriers in a language, I feel it often harms it.Spanish is indeed a language driven by gender. Every noun is specifically used to specify when we are talking about males or females. Changing it will make it a little confusing and hard to efficiently communicate.I don't really see my parents adapting the form of language rules.”

There are those who are in favor for Latinx and those who oppose it. Then, there are those who understand the meaning and feeling indifferent towards it. Take Cari, for instance.
Cari is of Puerto Rican descent and when she first heard about Latinx, her, along with her mother, thought it was a nightclub. She feels as if people did understand the term, they would definitely use it more, however Cari did state that it would have to be taught, because “putting genders on words is DEEPLY rooted in the Spanish vocabulary. I think maybe it should be used when referring to large populations. However, people could use the word as they please when identifying themselves. It is also a tool in being politically correct.”

“I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, My father in Honduras and my mother in the Dominican Republic. Yes I have heard of it, a couple of times here and there about a year ago but recently only by my friend Mikey who identifies as Latinx.
“I don't really pay it any mind, sounds cool in a very odd way if I'm being honest, I know it supposed to be a gender non binary latina/latino, it’s a fine name if you want to use it.” Says Kenny, first year college student. “I don't really think it NEEDS to be used more, I suppose like anything that means alot to any group it should be taken seriously where appropriate, as far as it being acknowledged more by the community I suppose it eventually will in its own time won’t it? Just a matter of treating the term with respect as you come across it. Nah, it'll rise at the same slow pace as all the other pronouns and terms for nonbinaries that are being used.”

When asked about when they first out about Latinx, Yoli, who is of Puerto Rican/Hispanic descent responded, “Only online. Never in person.”

“My view is I honestly don't mind it as long as no one goes on rage at me if I don't use it.”
The similar answer that Cherry has as well. “I'm Puerto Rican, my mom is and my step dad is Cuban. I've heard of the term. My views are just the same with how people don't gender themselves. I don't take offense to it at all, I'm a huge supporter, but just as I only see two genders (not everyone can see the same views), Latinx is a word I won't use. Just because I've been born and raised on Latino, Latina. Not to say others who were won't say Latinx, but it's just how I am. The term might confuse the older generation and might upset them seeing as it's always been Latino and Latina. They might see it as others trying to rewrite the words that have always been around. I believe whoever is more comfortable with the term can definitely use it freely when they are speaking Spanish but everyone is entitled to Latina, Latino or Latinx.”
“I don’t even use to word Latino(a) because most people I know/encountered always refer to themselves as their nationality. But I have no problem using it if someone corrects me when referring to them just like I don't mind if people mistake me as "white".” Yoli continues. “I don't even know if I'm talking about the right thing. I guess they should if they are referring to a group of people or to someone they don't know but to be honest, you're just going to get shit if you correct people all the time to use it because most people see it as flat out annoying. Personally, I don't mind but I like specifics when talking about a specific person. We gotta wait till the older generation to die off. You have no idea how many times I've gotten into arguments with family and older Hispanics/Latinos/a/x because I corrected them on not calling "white" people "Americanos". The younger generation will obviously be more accepting to use it but I can't even imagine explaining gender neutrality (is that even a word) to an older hispanic.”

What really stood out to me was when I interviewed Dally Torres, who had such an interesting outlook on the whole idea of Latinx.

“My ethnicity is Puerto Rican and Dominican. Both of my parents are 1st generation New Yorkers. My grandparents from my mom's side both moved here from Puerto Rico and my Grandmother from my Father's side was born in Dominican Republic and adopted by a Puerto Rican Family after the loss of her family in a fire. I was born and raised in New York like my parents.

2/3. I have recently heard of this new term being thrown around called "Latinx" I have mixed views on the term. About 3 years ago I decided I no longer wanted to be categorized by how my body perceives me. This was do to the everyday racial biases that come along with being a human in our society. I decided I no longer wanted to say I'm hispanic/ latina/ latino/ mexican/ or whatever other labels people have come up with. Then I got to Medgar and I met a friend, he was a really cool guy, and then I felt the need to ask him what he was, and he said with the straightest face " I'm human" at first I thought he was joking but up till this day I still do not know his ethnicity. As the years passed and we got to know each other better, I found out that the reason he says he’s human is because he believes people are going to perceive you to be whatever they want you to be so when they ask you it is not because they truly care, because those who care don’t care what you are as long as you’re alive and well. Those who care more about what you are than who you are are not looking to really be there for you. And this view changed and shaped how I think of myself, and the people around me. Up until recently I would say I'm human and when ever I would get those people that are insistent of guessing, or trying to force it out of me; I would say that I'm from a country in Africa called Niger that most people are unfamiliar with which would bring me amusement from their abrupt disbelief and mer confusion. I recently realized that I do this because I'd rather spend 5 mins of my life planting seeds in the minds of others to stop trying to fit everyone in categories and enjoy the journey of life, so if they go home and look up Niger, and in the process learn something new, I did a good job. Latinx is a good defense against gender norms in a very historically sexist culture. I think it is a good way to bring awareness to the LGBT community of "Latin" decent, as well as take the implicit masculinity that comes along with the gender neutral terminology utilized in the Spanish Language. However, I think it does create a double separational term, I believe calling yourself latin is a term of separation and calling yourself "latinx" is not only separating yourself from other ethnic groups but now you’re also creating subcategories, so you're also separating yourself from your fellow "latins." I think it was unavoidable, we see people from the LGBT community coining terminologies left and right from all cultures, this morning someone brought up the "Black Trans Lives Matter" Group, in disgust and when I first heard of latinx that’s almost the same reaction I’ve gotten amongst my own community, because of the homophobic views as well as the sexist views that are held so dearly. A lot of people in the latin community still feel women should obey the man and stay in her place, and the reality is that just isn't the world we are living in anymore. So I do believe these words will continue to be coined and utilized until it is a norm to not be gendered, I believe it is part of the evolvement/ evolution of language and culture.

4 I believe it should be clarified on the actual definition, before it is utilized more often especially in communities. I feel we already have so many hardships going on in our communities we must tread carefully when introducing new ideals and terms into our communities. I say this with more sensitivity to the Males in our community because the image of masculinity is so glorified and sought after by our males, especially the adolescent, they become so obsessed with machismo they get tunnel vision type of view on life and that could very much handicap them more than they already are. The spanish word for a person that is not heterosexual, or is trans is “puto” which means faggot. which is why it may be needed if it's going to be a respectful way of saying that they are gay or trans but at the same time that is not something that needs to be expressed in a way that ties it with an with an ethnicity or culture because it is a personal choice, whether it be voluntary or involuntary, and some may find that it is disrespectful to the latins the same way some blacks feel about the Black Trans Lives Matters Group.

I think the newer generations will definitely utilize it more than older generations. I think that's just because the newer generations are more susceptible to the way the world is changing and they are a lot more accepting of it. I find a lot of the older generations are very stuck in their old racist, and sexist ways, and that's for just about any culture and ethnicity.”
Dally ends this interview answering my final question about how the older generation will deal with using the term.

“It is the newer generation's duty to strive for better and to change the world into the world they want to see, so we cannot let older generations continue to hold us back from the peace we are trying to establish, because of their bias views.”