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NAAFA Recognizes Latinx Heritage Month

Darliene Howell

Image description: Group of five fat Latinx models shot outdoors. Photo credit: Lucas Pictures for Lane Bryant

By Elaine Lee and Marcy Cruz

Latinx Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15 and it’s a time of celebration for Americans to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of US residents whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. [Source: https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/] 

The start of Latinx Heritage Month coincides with the Independence Days for several Latin American countries. For example, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua celebrate their Independence Days on September 15. September 16 is Mexico’s Independence Day, and September 18 is Chile’s Independence Day. September 21 is Belize’s Independence Day.

It’s important to note that while the U.S. federal government observes National Hispanic Heritage Month, which started in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson as Hispanic Heritage Week and was expanded to a full month in 1988, the term “Hispanic” has become somewhat problematic given its connection to colonization and to Spain, in particular. Those with African and Indigenous roots often feel left out of conversations and celebrations under the “Hispanic” label. 

Thus, the gender-inclusive term “Latinx” or gendered variants thereof such as “Latino/Latina” has more recently become more widely adopted, but much work remains to be done to ensure that equitable and inclusive spaces are created to center the existence of Black, African and Indigenous Latinx peoples and the issues that disproportionately impact them. (“El Espace: Does Hispanic Heritage Month Need a Rebrand?” by Isabella Herrera, New York Times, updated June 17, 2021)

Latinx folks have been making waves in fat liberation spaces for many years. In truth, Latinx fat activists have always been on the ground, doing the work. For example, Latinx fat activists have been long time leaders and participants in NOLOSE, a queer-centered fat activist non-profit organization active nationwide for over 20 years. 

When the diet industry and anti-obesity public health campaigns such as former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign and the State of Georgia’s “Strong4Life” initiative disproportionately targeted people and kids of color, Latinx fat activists worked in coalition with other independent Black, Indigenous, and People of Color fat activists to challenge white-dominated narratives in fat activism. 

Image description: Chub Rollz group photo of four fat BIPOC people, three of which are Latinx, outdoors with their skateboards. Photo credit: @chubrollz IG

Nowadays, Latinx fat activists are creating change in many different facets of society. Fat Latinx writers and performers have been published numerous times in mainstream media and academic journals, such as Miguel Morales, who is an editor of Fat and Queer: An Anthology of Queer and Trans Bodies and Lives. Latinx fat activists such as Gloria Lucas are rising leaders in the body-acceptance movement, and are raising awareness of the disproportionate impact weight stigma and eating disorders have on communities of color and the relative failure of medical and health care professionals to effectively treat fat patients of color. During the pandemic, Andy Duran, a Black and Mexican skateboarding enthusiast, founded Chub Rollz, a BIPOC and Queer/Trans led group for fat skateboarders and roller skaters of all wheels, ages, abilities and genders/orientations to get their skate on.

As it has in the past, this month NAAFA will shine a spotlight on some Latinx folks who have been working in Fat Liberation. NAAFA Board of Directors member Marcy Cruz will be interviewing and honoring Latinx leaders in the fat fashion world who are pushing for size inclusivity and diversity. NAAFA’s monthly Anti-Racism Resources feature focuses this September on supporting Latinx community.  

Please be sure to check our website for more information on these exciting events and others, as well as following us on social media to see special posts spotlighting Latinx individuals from our fat community. 

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/naafaofficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EqualityAtEverySize

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/naafaofficial/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/naafaofficial

In the meantime, please check out some of NAAFA’s past content featuring some amazing Latinx fat activists:

Photo is of Marcy Cruz, a young Black/Latina woman pictured in front of a white wall.

Marcy Cruz (she/her) – Marcy joined the Board of Directors in 2020. She is an award-winning writer/author, educator and activist with 20 years of experience in the plus size fashion industry. She is also signed to State Management as an extended-sizes (4X+) fit model and is the content creator of the blog Fearlessly Just Me.

Photo is of Elaine Lee, a young Chinese-American woman pictured in a flowering garden area.

Elaine K. Lee (she/her) – Elaine joined the Board of Directors in 2020. She is an activist, recovering corporate attorney and computer engineer. Elaine has previously served as Co-President of the Board of Directors of NOLOSE, a national nonprofit organization committed to fat liberation and eliminating hatred, prejudice, and discrimination toward fat people.