May 28, 2020
By Melanie Fallas
Staff Writer
This article is part of The Lighthouse’s weeklong “The Power of Language” in-depth reporting series.
Pronounced “La-teen-ex,” the term Latinx, which is the gender-neutral alternative to Latino and Latina. has been heard more and more among Spanish speakers.
It is part of the “linguistic revolution” that aims to move beyond gender binaries and is inclusive to all intersecting identities of Latin American descendants. Therefore, the term Latinx is meant to make room for people who are trans, queer, agender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming or gender fluid.
Queer nonbinary femme writer Jack Qu’emi Gutierrez said in an interview with Public Radio International that the “x” is a way of rejecting the gendering words, especially since Spanish is such a gendered language. This means all Spanish nouns have a related gender of either masculine or feminine.
Senior Fabiana Soto-Gallego, who refers to herself as a Latina or Hispanic, said she supports the use of the term Latinx. She said the difference between the terms Spanish, Hispanic and Latina are sometimes lost in translation but that they do not all mean the same thing.
“To be Hispanic means that you are from a Spanish-speaking background, while being Latina means you are from a Latin American country,” Soto-Gallego said. “People born in Spain are Spanish because they come from the European country.”
The term Latinx emerged in 2004 within queer communities and became more popular in late 2014, according to the news website Complex. By 2015, Google searches for the term Latinx began to increase, and it became widely-used on social media platforms like Tumblr and Twitter.
Soto-Gallego said the online communities that form on social media platforms help nonbinary people feel supported.
“While the term may not reflect the past needs of the Spanish-speaking community, it certainly reflects the needs of the community today.”
“I think it’s a great way to open up doors for those feeling excluded in the Spanish-speaking community,” Soto-Gallego said. “Nowadays, the internet is the fastest way to communicate anything to the world.”
Soto-Gallego said it is important for the LGBTQ community to feel included and comfortable with the gender pronouns they select for themselves.
“The Spanish-speaking community is not just for those born Hispanic. It is for everyone who is willing to learn about the culture, the people and the language itself,” Soto-Gallego said.
Sophomore Maria Gamez said varying opinions on the term Latinx are causing friction among Spanish speakers.
“I think it’s divisive because it’s splitting people into two groups,” Gamez said. “I feel uncomfortable with the situation, not because I have anything against people that classify [as Latinx], but because it is ruining a language…. People are trying to change a language that has been around for hundreds of years,” Gamez said.
Some individuals say they do not use the term because it does not “roll off the tongue when speaking Spanish,” according to the Huffington Post. They also refer to the term as a form of rebellion against deeply rooted traditions in Spanish culture, such as religion.
Gamez said she does not agree with the notion that the term was created as an act of rebellion but instead views it as an unnecessary attempt to be more inclusive.
“It does feel weird saying it, and even though I don’t agree with the word, I don’t think that not rolling off the tongue is a solid reason to not use it,” Gamez said.
Gamez said she asks herself if people who use the term Latinx and agree with its significance believe other words should be changed within the language as well.
“For example, would ‘niñx’ be the [gender] neutral version of children in Spanish?” Gamez said. “I think it’s stupidity because it’s not just about tradition. People are trying to change a language that has been around for hundreds of years for a dumb reason.”
Gay-Straight Alliance club co-advisor Mr. Spence said he is happy the Spanish-speaking community is becoming more inclusive and accepting people who identify as Latinx.
“We are living in a time where it is important to be conscious of other people’s feelings, especially regarding how they self-identify,” Spence said. “This is a great step to shifting a culture to be more accepting.”
Spence said he does not agree with the notion that the term Latinx stems from an interest in rebelling. Instead, he said it is a way to update the culture to fit modern times.
“The beauty of culture is that it is always changing and adapting. Ultimately, culture reflects the views of the people unified by it,” Spence said. “While the term may not reflect the past needs of the Spanish-speaking community, it certainly reflects the needs of the community today.”
Spence said although Spanish-speaking social media influencers should be encouraging the use of the term Latinx, everyone should use the term when they feel it is appropriate.
“When people are communicating with others who use or identify with the term, they should be encouraged to use Latinx,” Spence said.
Spanish teacher Mrs. Silvelo said she strives to inform her students about changes and updates being made to the Spanish language.
“I teach my students about it as I teach them the difference between Latin, Hispanic and Spanish. I think it’s important to keep them informed,” Silvelo said. “I don’t make it a point to use it, but if it arises in context, I will.”
Silvelo said she believes social media will continue to play an important role in spreading awareness about the term Latinx and its usage.
“As individuals, we need to educate ourselves and decide if it’s something we feel strongly about, then make the choice to use it or not,” Silvelo said. “I think we will be seeing more of it in both books and magazines, newspapers, etcetera.”
Despite the debate surrounding the term Latinx, in September 2018, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary added it to its online dictionary with the definition, “of, relating to, or marked by Latin American heritage—used as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino/a.”
