Lawmakers Propose Use of the Word “Latine” in Official Government Documents

(Trends Wide) — Several Democratic lawmakers in Connecticut are pushing for passage of a bill that would direct state agencies to use the gender-neutral term “Latino” in official government documents.

The legislation, called House Bill 6909, advanced to the state Senate last week. If approved and signed by the governor, the bill would approve the use of “latine,” “latino,” and “latina” on state documents. The current legislative session ends on June 7.

Rep. Geraldo Reyes, a Democrat who is a major sponsor of the bill, said the legislation “reflects the interests of the overwhelming majority of Latin Americans in our state and in the rest of the world.”

Earlier this year, Reyes introduced another bill that would ban the use of “Latinx,” a term he previously described as offensive and unnecessary. That bill was referred to a committee but has not moved forward.

“The language is complicated and always evolving, but the Spanish language does not have many words with the letter X. It can be difficult for native speakers to pronounce Latinx in a way that feels comfortable,” Reyes said in a statement. “Some members of the LGBTQIA+ community prefer the term ‘Latine’ because of its inclusiveness with Spanish speakers.”

The proposed legislation is the latest attempt by lawmakers across the country to decide on an official term to describe people of Latino descent. In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order banning the use of “Latinx” on official state documents, saying the government should use “ethnically appropriate language,” Trends Wide previously reported.

(Trends Wide) — Several Democratic lawmakers in Connecticut are pushing for passage of a bill that would direct state agencies to use the gender-neutral term “Latino” in official government documents.

The legislation, called House Bill 6909, advanced to the state Senate last week. If approved and signed by the governor, the bill would approve the use of “latine,” “latino,” and “latina” on state documents. The current legislative session ends on June 7.

Rep. Geraldo Reyes, a Democrat who is a major sponsor of the bill, said the legislation “reflects the interests of the overwhelming majority of Latin Americans in our state and in the rest of the world.”

Earlier this year, Reyes introduced another bill that would ban the use of “Latinx,” a term he previously described as offensive and unnecessary. That bill was referred to a committee but has not moved forward.

“The language is complicated and always evolving, but the Spanish language does not have many words with the letter X. It can be difficult for native speakers to pronounce Latinx in a way that feels comfortable,” Reyes said in a statement. “Some members of the LGBTQIA+ community prefer the term ‘Latine’ because of its inclusiveness with Spanish speakers.”

The proposed legislation is the latest attempt by lawmakers across the country to decide on an official term to describe people of Latino descent. In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order banning the use of “Latinx” on official state documents, saying the government should use “ethnically appropriate language,” Trends Wide previously reported.