At Adelante Mujeres, we say 'welcome' to inclusive language
Let's begin explaining these two words: Latinx and Latine: Both terms are gender-neutral versions of Latina and Latino, whose "a" and "o" endings correlate to Spanish's feminine and masculine forms assigned to nouns and adjectives.
Latine and Latinx are used to avoid the association with gender. Latine is preferred when communicating in Spanish for various reasons, such as being easier to pronounce and use in plurals. Latinx is more well-known among English speakers.
Why Latine?
We have chosen to use the term Latine for all our written and verbal communication in Spanish and English to honor the community we serve, whose roots are primarily from Latin America, and most of them speak Spanish as their first language.
We will begin using the term Latine to align with our values, "We believe that a strong community requires the inclusion of all." We intend to create a welcoming environment for all people, including those who identify outside the gender binary. For us, incorporating the word Latine is very significant as it also includes those Hispanic cultures that have been marginalized and repressed by rigorous gender binarism and patriarchy. Latine goes beyond gender binaries and acknowledges the intersecting identities of our incredibly diverse and beautiful community.
We understand that not everyone is comfortable using this new term, and we strive to create a safe and welcoming community for all where we are open to dialogue to achieve respect and mutual understanding. Adelante Mujeres is committed to re-evaluating our approach as the language evolves.
It is important to remember that all people have the right to identify with language that captures who they are and makes them feel welcome. In short, we want you to know that the doors of Adelante Mujeres are always open to you, no matter how you identify yourself.