If you didn’t know yet, I was raised in Puerto Rico, where Spanish is the predominant language but a good number of us also speak English (and Spanglish is wildly common). Though I was already invested in social justice issues from a young age, most of my formal education around that came after I entered college in an English-only environment. But aside from the fact that the U.S. is by FAR not the only place where worthwhile activism happens and knowledge is produced so we should look elsewhere too, I have also worked with a lot of fellow migrants/immigrants and monolingual Spanish-speakers, so it’s been critical to find resources to rebalance my knowledge and how I communicate it back in Spanish.
So, I offer you and anyone who needs it, resources for greater knowledge and justice in Spanish! The sections below are as follows:
- Terminology and Glossaries
- The Language Justice Framework
- Theory and Knowledge Banks
- LGBTQA Rights
- TGNC-Specific Issues
- Sex Education, Relationships, and Health
- Sex Work
- Courses, Classes, and Practice Sessions
- Spanish-Language Interpreters
TERMINOLOGY AND GLOSSARIES
- Sara Koopman’s Blog Spanish For Social Change has hundreds of posts about Spanish social justice terminology for interpreters and translators. Posts are brief and accessible, and include socio-cultural context for how to use the terminology.
- Language Justice Guide by Soul Farm Fire is a Google Doc with explanations and resources on non-binary language options and resources for interpreters and translators who work with English and Spanish.
- Decolonizing Food Systems // Racial Justice Glossary by the Hudson Valley Farm Hub. The listed terms are those used for discussion on racial justice, farmworker rights, and the food system sourced from interpreting a “Decolonizing our Food System” workshop.
- Spanish Clinical Language and Resource Guide is a 49-page PDF by the Washburn Center for Children all about clinical language in Spanish, and can be very useful for therapists and other clinical staff who were formally trained in English but need to communicate in Spanish.
- Resources For Teaching Spanish Within A Social Justice Framework comes from the Spanish for Social Justice Teacher Network (SFSJ).
- Nonbinary Wiki gives an English overview of Gender neutral language in Spanish and includes a breakdown of common ways Spanish grammar can be modified to become more gender inclusive. Nonbinary Wiki also has a Glossary of Spanish gender and sex terminology.
- NPR on how ‘Latin@’ Offers A Gender-Neutral Choice; But How To Pronounce It?.
- In this audio clip from Radio Kingston en Español, Adriana Perichi speaks to Lenguaje inclusivo y mucho más, amigues (inclusive language and much more, friends).
- Phoenix Tawnyflower’s breakdown of Nonbinary Spanish is especially useful for those who are still learning Spanish or have learned Spanish as their non-native language.
- Feminist Glossary infographics by Movimiento de Acción Estudiantil. Short but powerful. Includes and defines the words feminism, mansplaining, feminazi, misandry/female supremacy, patriarchy, gender role, empowerment, gender identity, heteronormativity, and symbolic violence.
- Pikara Magazine – Periodismo con perspectiva feminista (Pikara Magazine – Journalism with a feminist perspective) gives some options for some feminist vocabulary in Spanish Sign Language with short youtube videos found at Lengua de Signos Española (LSE).
- Glosario Feminista from Revista Emancipa, a Latin-American feminist publication from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Paraguay.
SOME HELPFUL WORDS FOR SEX-POSITIVE SPANISH
Though I have been bilingual most of my life, many of these words I was only exposed to in English once I left my island of Puerto Rico. So, for others who may be wondering how to translate some common terms used in discussing sexuality, relationships, and so on, here’s a little list. But always remember—Spanish is a varied and vibrant language, so these may also have regional differences and alternatives.
- rape culture = cultura de violación
- sex worker = sexoservidor/a/x o trabajador/a/x del sexo
- misandry = hembrismo
- structural violence = violencia estructural
- microaggression = microagresión (micromachismo for misogynistic ones, specifically)
- a misogynist internet “troll” = machitroll
- Check out Alerta Machitroll, an effort to combat cyber-misogyny out of Colombia!
- male chauvinist / misogynist = machista / machirulo
- patriarchy = patriarcado
- revenge porn = porno vengativo
- cishet = heterocis
- heteronormative = heteronormativo
- free love = amor libre
- consensual relationships = relaciones consensuadas
- monogamy = monogamia
- monogamous relationship = relación monogámica o relación monógama
- the monogamous norm = la mononorma
- the institution of monogamy = la institución monogámica
- triad = trieja
- romantic-sexual relationships = relaciones sexoafectivas
- group agreement = normas de convivencia, normas de equipo
- relationship anarchy = anarquía relacional
- relationship orientation = orientación relacional
- compulsory heterosexuality = heterosexualidad compulsoria u obligatoria
THE LANGUAGE JUSTICE FRAMEWORK
- Antena Aire, a collaborative that “activates links between social justice work and artistic practice by exploring how critical views on language can help us to reimagine and rearticulate the worlds we inhabit” is home to this rundown of How to Build Language Justice.
- This Language Justice Curriculum by the Center for Participatory Change (CPC) is “targeted to interpreters and people interested in interpreting who want to understand language justice or interpretation in a social justice context”. The Center for Participatory Change’s work is rooted in popular education which keeps this curriculum highly accessible. CPC also hosts Se Ve Se Escucha, a podcast about “language justice and what it means to be an interpreter, an organizer and bilingual in the US South.”
- Highlander Research and Education Center has a comprehensive introductory curriculum for interpreting for social justice.
- New Entry Sustainable Farming Project published this Multilingual Strategies for Community Organizing Language Justice Tool Kit.
- Check out the rad work of Babilla Collective, a collective of Queer/ Cuir transfeminist anti-racist language workers who come from experiences of migration and diaspora.
TEORÍA Y CÚMULOS DE CONOCIMIENTO // THEORY AND KNOWLEDGE BANKS
- El blog Judith Butler en Español explora temas relacionados a la teoría de género y las obras de Judith Butler. Aunque el blog no está siendo actualizado todavía, existe dentro de sus archivos mucha información útil. // This blog explores gender theory and the work of Judith Butler in numerous Spanish language posts. While the blog is not currently being updated with new posts, there is a wealth of information to be found in the archives.
- Biblioteca Fragmentada es una biblioteca virtual feminista “que busca articular una red feminista y lesbiana de intercambio de lecturas y miradas críticas”. Nace de Chile pero realmente vive en el cibermundo. Fue creado en 2010 con el propósito de de abrir vías de intercambio de lecturas y análisis críticas que abordan las construcciones y normas que “intentan ordenar nuestros imaginarios, géneros, sexualidades y afectos.” // Out of Chile but truly based in the cyberworld, this virtual library was created in 2010 with the purpose of creating an avenue for exchanging readings and critical analyses about the social constructions and norms around gender, sexual identity, and power relations.
- Colección Feminista recomienda esta biblioteca feminista, una colección de libros clave y ensayos destacados. // Feminist library featuring a collection of key books and notable essays.
- Este blog: Una Biblioteca Comunitaria
- Recursos antirracistas en español es un documento de Google con videos, ensayos, libros, infografías y más. // A Google doc with videos, essays, books, infographics and more.
AFROLATINIDAD
- Presencia y Palabra: Mujeres Afroperuanas es un colectivo de mujeres afrofeministas diversas e impulsa espacios de diálogo, acción y reconexión entre mujeres negras y afrodescendientes. // A facebook page made up of afrofeminist women, which encourages spaces of dialogue, action and reconnection between Black women.
- Radio Caña Negra es un podcast dedicado a temas de gente Afrolatinx. // A podcast dedicated to Afrolatinx people and topics.
- NEGRADAS / Red de mujeres afrodiasporicas es una cuenta de Instagram dedicada a la visibilización, difusión y reconocimiento de experiencias de mujeres negras y descendientes de la diaspora afrikana.
- AfroResistance is a Black Latinx Womxn-led organization with the mission of educate and organize for human rights, democracy and racial justice throughout the Americas.
LGBTQA RIGHTS
- Espicy Nipples and La Sombrilla Cuir are two amazing organizations in Puerto Rico that focus on intersectional justice. Espicy Nipples describes itself as a transfeminist organization that centers justice and sharing the stories of LGBTQI+ people, women, Black folks, immigrants, indigenous populations, and people solo-parenting through art and movement-building. La Sombrilla Cuir describes itself as a project to empower disadvantaged populations by creating social media content and educational workshops through an intersectionality lens. Together, these two organizations—in partnerships with others—have also done amazing work around natural disasters on the island as well, and spearheaded mutual aid projects for the most affected areas. Their social media is FIRE.
- “De Colores” is a short (<30mins), bilingual documentary about overcoming homophobia in Latinx families.
- Lambda Legal, the oldest and largest national legal organization in the U.S. advocating for equality for the LGBTQA community, houses this collection of recursos para personas mayores transexuales, transgénero y que no se rigen por estereotipos de género (collection of resources for trans and gender non-binary older adults).
- Calidad de cuidado para lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transgéneros y transexuales: Eliminando la invisibilidad y las disparidades de salud is a presentation from the LGBT health education center through The Fenway Institute about quality health care and removing health disparities for LGBT people. From the same center comes the following presentation focused on best practices for primary care and front-line staff in healthcare settings for trans and GNC people: Atención afirmativa para personas transgénero y de género no conformista: Mejores prácticas para el personal de atención médica de primera línea.
- PFLAG has two relevant publications: Sé Tú Mismo, a publication (in 2020 it’s now a pay-to-read booklet, costing $2.50) that is the Spanish translation of PFLAG’s publication, “Be Yourself” + Nuestras Hijas y Nuestros Hijos, another $2.50 booklet focused on information for parents which is a translation of their pamphlet “Our Daughters and Our Sons.”
- Creo que soy asexual, a PDF by Advocates for Youth. It’s a lovely and well-illustrated introduction to asexuality, framed for people who are questioning if they may be ace. The organization overall has other similar resources for other identities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans).
TGNC-SPECIFIC ISSUES
- My Kid Is Gay, a website dedicated to helping families understand their LGTBTQ kids contains this useful article for “Hablando sobre personas que se identifican con un género otro que el de mujer u hombre” (“talking about people who identify with a gener that is neither man nor woman”) by Araguaney Rodriguez Da Silva, and other related articles in Spanish. It’s one of the best and most direct guides to this I’ve found, frankly.
- The Trevor Project came together with Fundación Iguales to create a draft in Spanish of the “gender planet” page originally found in the GENDER book.
- Trans Latina counselor Nicole Garcia addresses Tips for Coming Out as Transgender to your Latino Family.
- Health and fertility pamphlets for trans folks (in Spanish) developed in 2013 by the UCSF Center for Excellence for Transgender Health with the California Family Health Council.
- REDLACTRANS – La Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe (Latin American and Caribbean Transgender Network) does workshops and advocacy, hosts resources on their website, and more. Their main focus is that all Latin American trans people have their rights both guaranteed and respected. As per their page, they currently have representation in the following countries: Argentina, Barbados, Bahamas, Belice, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haití, Honduras, Jamaica, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, República Dominicana, Surinam, Trinidad y Tobago y Uruguay.
- TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA) has resources in Spanish about vocabulary, frequently asked questions, and practical advice.
SEX EDUCATION, RELATIONSHIPS, AND HEALTH
- This Biblioteca de Ginecología Autogestiva del colectivo Vulva Sapiens (virtual library by Vulva Sapiens) is full of DIY gynecology information primarily (albeit not exclusively) in Spanish!
- Golfx con principios “promotes a sex positive approach to unconventional sex —polyamory, swinging, BDSM, kink, LGBT and queer— through publications, activities and services.” They have Spanish translations of prominent articles about these topics, as well as original content, including a Spanish-language guide to non-monogamy, recommendations for kink/non-monogamy aware therapists. They also have a large portion of their website available in English as well.
- 14 Tipos de Relaciones Sexoafectivas names and briefly defines 14 types of sexual and emotional relationships. The article, in Spanish, also tackles some myths about polyamory and open relationships, and poses some self-reflection questions for how to “vivir una relación abierta/poliamorosa sin dañar ni ser dañadx” (how to live an open/polyamorous relationship without causing harm or being harmed).
- There are various Spanish-only Youtube channels devoted to sexuality education. To get started, check the work of Inés Palacios and Sex Place TV.
- Papaya Tropical is a Puerto Rican feminist sex education platform and brand that focuses on sexual freedom and empowerment.
- (Note that some of the resources in previous sections are also relevant here, like the work of Espicy Nipples and La Sombrilla Cuir!)
SEX WORK
- Asociación de Profesionales del Sexo (Sex Profesionals Association) maintains a blog in Spanish with sex positive information for sex workers, and aims to create a community with the shared goal of striving for human, civil and labor rights as sex workers.
- Guía de Salud y Recursos para Mujeres Trans Trabajadoras del Sexo (Health Guide and Resources for Trans Women Sex Workers) by Colectivo LGTB+ de Madrid.
COURSES, CLASSES, AND PRACTICE SESSIONS
- The Center for Participatory Change offers both a free 5 session Online Language Justice Interpreter Training, and a series of Interpreter Skill-Building Videos.
- Boston Interpreters Collective hosts workshops and trainings for building language capacity. Contact them directly for more information.
- Spanish schools Escuela de la montaña (Guatemala) and Casa Xalteva (Nicaragua) are both providing online Spanish classes with native speakers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
SPANISH-LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
Organizing an event or activity that needs interpretation? Here are some interpreters and interpreter collectives that operate using a language justice framework! Though we’ve included their main base of operations below, please note many of these people can also do remote work. (Please check out my accessibility and disability justice page for more interpretation resources.)
- Boston Interpreters Collective Boston, Massachusetts
- Cenzontle Asheville, North Carolina
- Tilde Language Justice Cooperative Triangle Region, North Carolina
- Community Language Cooperative Denver, Colorado
- Antena Los Ángeles Los Angeles, California
- Austin Language Justice Collective Austin, Texas
- Babilla Collective / Colectivo Babilla New York, New York
- TransTerpsDC Washington D.C.
- COMAL Languaje Justice Collective is a latinx collective of language justice interpreters in North Texas.
Acknowledgements:
Header image by jairojehuel from Pixabay.
And un millón de gracias to Chelsea Sokolow, who helped me massage these resources into shape with such great care and vision. Your knowledge, willingness to help, and similar brain-waves were a blessing.