LGBT Latino, Andrés Duque, a Force To Be Reckoned With

In talking about media in the U.S., it is critical that we remind ourselves that race is not experienced in English alone. With growing Latina/o communities, Spanish-language media (along with other non-English outlets) too often falls off the radar when it comes to issues of defamation or the perpetuation of stereotypes. A few years ago, Mónica Taher (former People of Color Media Director for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation – GLAAD), pushed the LGBT movement to take into account the work of Spanish-language media and its portrayal of LGBT issues.

While GLAAD continues to monitor Spanish-language media, there is one person who has become the go-to source for all things LGBT in Spanish-language media and in Latin America. Andrés Duque, a gay Colombian-American blogger, is a highly regarded LGBT and Latina/o rights activist across the continent. Through his work, Andrés has played a critical role in calling out the political atrocities of elected officials and the stereotyping in the media.

Domestically, Duque has been a thorn in New York’s senator Ruben Diaz, Sr.’s side, often spotlighting the senator’s vicious anti-gay agenda. Internationally, Duque is a primary resource for Latinas/os in the diaspora wanting to know the latest in LGBT rights in their home countries in Latin America. One of my first pieces on Race in America was about perceived homophobic comments made by Bolivian President Evo Morales, which I first learned about through Duque’s work.

Recently, Andrés Duque wrote about Spanish-language media site Univision.com’s placement of an online poll asking if soccer was compatible with homosexuality. The three options for respondents to click were:

1. Yes, sexuality is private and independent.

2. Yes, but you don’t have to make it public.

3. No, soccer is a sport for macho men.

Two days later, popular LGBT news blogs, Queerty and After Elton, picked up on the news as well. Then came GLAAD, the LGBT media watchdog, who in turn contacted Univision.com directly and challenged the placement of the poll on the company’s Sports website. This week, GLAAD announced on its blog that Univision.com apologized for the poll and removed it from the page.

While some might have deemed the poll innocent enough, for others it supports the continuation of anti-LGBT sentiments and the propagation of stereotypes of Latina/o masculinities. Sites such as Univision.com should know better. Fortunately, there are people like Andrés Duque, fearlessly and relentlessly keeping an eye out for our communities.

Photo Credit: herreraylozano