Queer Latina/o(x) Youth Education: A Community-Based Education Model to Queer of Color Praxis

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on the author’s collaborative work with the Promotoras Comunitarias of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles who teach the Familias Diversas workshop series. Taught in Spanish, the project’s goal is to teach parents how to become advocates for and supporters of Latina/o(x) queer youth. The work of the Promotoras provides one example of how schools and community-based organizations can build support as well as create school policies related to queer youth of color. It is what the author calls a community-based education model grounded in queer of color praxis. This article is part of a symposium on queeruptions; it includes descriptions and analyses of the Promotoras’ pedagogical approaches to illustrate what makes their work queer of color praxis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. I use the term Latina/o(x) to speak to the unique challenges of Latinas, Latinos, and those who identify as “Latinx” which has gained popularity over the last few years to identify those who are of Latin American descent, who identify as gender queer or gender non-conforming. Thus the “x” is used as a non-gendered descriptor. (https://medium.com/center-for-comparative-studies-in-race-and/whats-in-the-x-of-latinx- 9266ed40766a).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rigoberto Marquéz

Rigoberto Marquéz, PhD, is with Stanford’s Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity where he teaches courses at the intersections of race, sexuality, and social justice. As a scholar activist Rigoberto has spent the last 20 years working for LGBT/Queer rights in Latina/o(x) communities and served in various capacities: HIV/AIDS outreach worker, community organizer, policy advocate, educator, and researcher. Rigoberto was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.