Latino Voicestrans LatinxLaith Ashley

Trans Model Breaks Down Why Some People Identify As Latinx

"Latinx is something that is new to me, so I know it’s new to a majority of people," said model Laith Ashley De La Cruz.
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By 

Latino Voices Editor, HuffPost

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If you still don’t quite understand what the term “ Latinx” means, allow trans model Laith Ashley De La Cruz to break it down for you. 

De La Cruz, who is of Dominican descent, shared what he understood the term to mean in an interview published on NBC News Sept. 20. 

“Latinx is something that is new to me, so I know it’s new to a majority of people,” he explained. “So I have a couple of friends that they’re queer-identified that identify as Latinx, and it’s just taking gender away from being Latino or Latina. It’s more of a general term. And it’s taking into consideration people who are maybe gender non-conforming or identify as both or neither genders. So it’s more of a spectrum thing.”  

If you’re interested in learning more about the term “Latinx,” click here. 

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Before You Go

16 Times Latinos Were Brutally Honest About Hollywood’s Lack Of Diversity
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John Leguizamo has made a name for himself on-stage with autobiographical productions like his one-man show turned HBO special, "Ghetto Klown." But he didn't just do these projects for fun. During an interview at 2015's Sundance Film Festival, Leguizamo said the projects were an answer to the limited opportunities that exist for Latino actors in Hollywood. (credit:Damon Dahlen/Huffington Post)
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Jennifer Lopez may be a megastar, but she says it means nothing when it comes to getting the roles she wants.

"It's super competitive and it doesn't matter how long you've been in the business or how great you've proven to be -- it's just, does that director want you for that role at that time, can you go in and convince," Lopez told HuffPost Live. "I still have to go in if there's a script that comes along that one of my agents is like 'This is a great script, you know, they want Cate Blanchett, but maybe you can still go in.' [I'm] like 'Just get me in the room! Give me a shot!'" (credit:Getty)
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Jaime Camil is a renowned telenovela actor on Spanish-language television. But when the star crossed over with "Jane The Virgin" as Rogelio de la Vega -- the actor told Latina magazine he found the industry to be out of touch with what Latino audiences want. And he had the perfect analogy to explain his point. (credit:Getty)
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"Broad City" star Arturo Castro didn't just get frank about what the casting process is like for Latino actors in Hollywood -- he also turned the tables. On "Flip the Script with Liz Plank", Castro held a fake audition and told white actors to act "whiter" to show why asking Latinos to lean into stereotypes is wrong. Watch the full prank here. (credit:Getty)
Sonia Manzano Described Feeling 'Invisible' As A Child(09 of16)
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When asked what being Latina meant to her growing up, Sonia Manzano (best known as Maria on "Sesame Street") told The Huffington Post she didn't always love her roots because she didn't see herself reflected in the movies and shows she loved as a child. Read her full statement at Latinos Break The Mold. (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Rita Moreno Opened Up About Her Worst Roles(10 of16)
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Cosmo EIC Said Hollywood Deliberately Leaves Out Latinos(11 of16)
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Former editor-in-chief of Cosmo For Latinas Michelle Mulligan took on Hollywood's Latino problem by pointing out how far the industry is from properly reflecting the reality of the United States. She noted that the lack of representation on-screen made little sense when you consider demographics and Latino's power at the box office. (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Rosie Perez On The Need To Rock The Boat In Hollywood(12 of16)
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Actress Rosie Perez said she's never been one to stay quiet when faced with Hollywood's limited views of what Latino actors can do on-screen. And the star told Larry King she got major backlash from Latino Hollywood when she tried to "rock the boat." Her response to them was simple:

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Edward James Olmos On Whitewashing Latino Stories(13 of16)
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"Argo" may have won the Academy award for Best Picture in 2013, but as actor Edward James Olmos told The Huffington Post, not many people knew Tony Mendez (portrayed by Ben Affleck) was Latino.

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Andy García opened up about what Hollywood was like for Latino actors when he first started in 1978 during an in-depth interview with The Huffington Post. (credit:Getty)
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In an interview with IndieWire, Demián Bichir noted diversity needed to start with those running the show from behind the camera. The ones writing the stories represented on screen. (credit:Getty)
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