I did a little chat on Latinidad for folks at Northwestern Univ. Law this morning and one of the interesting questions asked was if I thought neutralizing the Spanish language was useful & an end goal for the near future.

The question got me thinking about the difference between language affirmation and material affirmation. I answered that although language is useful, neutralizing language would still not protect, respect and value all people.

When I answered, I was particularly thinking of trans, nonbinary, and agender people. I’m further thinking about the fact that Latinx LGBTQIA+ communities navigate with a lot of unspoken internalized patriarchy that manifests as misogyny, femicides and other forms of violence.

I think that while we can neutralize the Spanish language, neutralization is still not going to address how even in queer and trans Latinx spaces, we discipline one another on the basis of gender, gender expression, body size, sexual performances, and so forth.

I want more nuanced conversations about the ruptures that exist in queer and trans Latinx spaces that aren’t just about language. What might it look like for us to divest from “Latinidad” so that we can invest in radical accountability?

I want queer & trans Latinx communities to have the tools they need to address the fact that many of us are born in patriarchal households & that those conditions make us internalize abuse, and that we actually do perpetuate the same abusive behavior in our own  “safe” spaces.

I want us to not assume that we are “safe” amongst each other, but to **actually** practice community safety by investing in frameworks of care.

Also, I cited @bad_dominicana today while talking about how her theory of being a “Bad Dominican” came before the book “Bad feminist” and the ways both artists are in conversation even if they may not know each other. And also cited @chicafroperuana !!