Why is the term ‘Latinx’ being used and not ‘Latino’

The ‘X’ in Latinx is a deliberate, radical, and intentional use by people to combat Spanish, a gendered and colonized language. LXIG stands by those individuals.

In a massive world that is ripping trans hope and joy apart every day, it’s integral that we stand with all of our Latinx community members.

Latino is not an option for us; it is a male-gendered term; it’s not gender inclusive, no matter how much ‘tradition’ information we are shown.

When speaking with our community, the overarching concern was how using the term ‘Latino’ would take a step back in the change we want to make. 

Where does the word Latinx originate from?

The origin of the term ‘Latinx’ can be hard to track down and even harder to solidify as one true answer.

• It is said that within the U.S. 'Latinx' was created by feminist Latin American queer women in the 1970s. On some of the protestors' signs, the 'OS' at the end of the word 'Latinos' was crossed out with a huge 'X' and therefore introduced the idea of adding the letter instead.

• It was an intentional choice to combat Spanish's gendered colonized language and have a genuine gender-inclusive option for referring to all Latin Americans.

• This term was created by U.S. Latinx English speakers to be used within English conversations; it was not created to be 'comfortable' to say in Spanish.

• It was also said to be first seen online in 2004. First appearing in academic literature around 2013 "in a Puerto Rican psychological periodical to challenge the gender binaries encoded in the Spanish language.

While others say the origin of the word was first created online within queer community forums. The word ‘Latinx’ continues to be and has always been radical in its origin and usage.

When and Why did Latino start being used as the gender inclusive option?

Latinos has historically been the gender inclusive term up until the early 2000’s. Referring to both binary genders of women and men while still using the masculine noun used in Spanish. This was an intentional choice due to machismo being at the height of latin culture during the industrial revolution between the 1760s to the 1840s.

Machismo is a social behavior pattern where males have an overbearing attitude, arrogance, demeaning words/actions, and so on. This behavior had a direct impact on language during this time and therefore made ‘Latinos’ the overarching term used.

But there are only two genders? This has only been a recent topic.

It hasn’t, though; many of our indigenous ancestors and current communities have recognized multiple gender identities for centuries.

They have been neglected, excluded, terrorized, pillaged, and erased due to colonization by the Spanish. Their teachings became less and less as time went on. Many of these indigenous communities don’t even identify with the term ‘Latin’ because of the treatment they’ve endured.

• A great example of this would be Muxe individuals from Zapotec culture. Muxe individuals are assigned male at birth and have the gender expression of women; they may be seen as a third gender by people within the community. This first record of Muxe individuals was in the early 1970s, with it being said that the three-gender system predates Spanish colonization. 

Then why don’t we just use the word Latin?

Latin doesn’t just refer to Latin Americans; it also includes people from Italy, France, and more. It was an umbrella term colonizers gave us to keep us all in one identification. Again, this would remove the intentional radicalized choice one would make when using the word ‘Latinx.’

But, it’s tradition! This is just how it is, why are you changing it?

Language evolves, ideas change, and generations shift. That is what is happening before us; nothing is wrong with that. 

Does this mean that I have to use Latinx?

No, everyone identifies differently.

Latinx people aren’t a monolith, using this term is simply respecting everyone no matter the identification.

Using the term ‘Latinx’ isn’t its own subset away from Latina or Latino, those two identifications fall under Latinx.