From Biden to 9News, Democrats have a Latinx problem they can’t walk back
For Immediate Release
January 5, 2022
DENVER, CO – Elected Democrats, the Miami Herald, and the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the U.S. have all spoken out strongly in recent weeks against the continued use of Latinx, Axios reports.
This presents a pretty obvious problem for everyone from President Biden to news organizations here in Colorado like 9News.
Democrats have a Latinx problem they can’t walk back 😬 https://t.co/IrFfZrtyDl pic.twitter.com/Ik2T4PlNWt
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) January 5, 2022
#COVID19 has exposed the deeply unequal access to health care in this country. Katherine w/ @colorlatina explains how disparities have had a significantly negative effect on the Latinx community–particularly women. Equity in health care is #WhatsAtStake w/ this SCOTUS nomination. pic.twitter.com/CRXm4rM6PE
— Michael Bennet (@SenatorBennet) October 25, 2020
Productive conversation with Latinx leaders to discuss our shared priorities of early childhood education, reducing healthcare costs, and ensuring Colorado is an inclusive state! Thank you all for the time and commitment to our community! #copolitics pic.twitter.com/xTImtpJLdc
— Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) March 28, 2019
I’m proud and beyond honored to have the support of @elsemanario_us. El Semanario has served Colorado’s Latinx community for over 30 years and I look forward to honoring their endorsement by serving the Latinx community in the Senate.https://t.co/PhTq4Otih5
— John Hickenlooper (@Hickenlooper) October 12, 2020
9News has visibly increased their usage of Latinx over the last year after their newsroom was accused of racism.
Yet, Axios noted polling shows virtually no Latinos use term.
- 23% of U.S. adults who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino have heard of the term Latinx, and just 3% say they use it to describe themselves, Pew Research Center found in 2020.
- Bendixen & Amandi International, a Miami-based Democratic firm focusing on Latinos, found only 2% used it in a poll conducted late last year.
According to Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, “Latinx” largely exists to appease rich white progressives.
To be clear my office is not allowed to use “Latinx” in official communications.
When Latino politicos use the term it is largely to appease white rich progressives who think that is the term we use. It is a vicious circle of confirmation bias. https://t.co/kMty6q7UQn— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) December 6, 2021
Some Democrat consultants blamed the use of the term for Republicans gaining share of the Latino vote in 2020.
If you are covering the move by Latino groups to eliminate Latinx, please consider the following quote from Compass Colorado.
“The only people who think Latinos use ‘Latinx’ are rich liberals like Jared Polis, Michael Bennet, and the woke execs at 9News,” said Compass Colorado Executive Director Kyle Kohli.
“If liberals continue to impose their language on Latinos to appease wealthy white progressives, they will continue to drive voters away.”
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