Queering Racialized Designations: Centering Queer and Trans Latine Students at an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (eHSI)

Abstract

The holistic needs of Queer and Trans Latine students have been habitually excluded from prominent discussion in US higher education. This paper positions itself as an urgent addition to the literature on Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and emerging HSI (eHSI) institutional identity to consider the needs of Queer and Trans Latine students directly. I conducted a total of four semi-structured interviews that were methodologically integrated with the testimonio framework. In these interviews, participants engaged in a journey toward healing from the injustices they (may) have faced at their eHSI while also deeply ingraining students in the process of what an equitable HSI institutional and organizational identity could be for Queer and Trans Latine students. The data were analyzed through an intersectionality and LatCrit theoretical framework. Findings showcase (1) the impact of department-level support of Queer and Trans identity as profoundly influential in students’ Queer and Trans identity development and navigational capital and (2) the impact that low levels of visibility of Queer and Trans Latine persons on campus have on how Queer and Trans Latine students navigate campus services and faculty support. I conclude with a discussion on how Queer and Trans Latine student experiences should be explored to develop campus resources further and supports for a historically resilient population.